Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Houston (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Houston. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Houston is located in Breathitt County.
To see how the shape of Kentucky's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Breathitt County: Knott, Lee, Magoffin, Owsley, Perry & Wolfe.
Below are the counties that are near Houston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Houston:
- Breathitt County (The home county of Houston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Copebranch
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Copebranch is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copebranch
- Jetts Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jetts Creek is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jetts Creek
- Whick
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Whick is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whick
- Chenowee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Chenowee is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chenowee
- Oakdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Oakdale is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Lost Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lost Creek is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
- Jackson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kragon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kragon is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kragon
- Quicksand
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Quicksand is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quicksand
- Wolverine
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wolverine is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolverine
- Frozen Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Frozen Creek is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frozen Creek
- Clayhole
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Clayhole is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhole
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Teges
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Teges is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teges
- Oneida
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Oneida is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneida
- Barcreek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Barcreek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barcreek
- Sextons Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sextons Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sextons Creek
- Eriline
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Eriline is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eriline
- Laurel Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Creek
- Big Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Big Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Burning Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Burning Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burning Springs
- Fall Rock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fall Rock is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Rock
- Manchester
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sidell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sidell is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidell
- Garrard
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Garrard is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrard
- Estill County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Miller's Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Miller's Creek is located in Estill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller's Creek
- Wagersville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wagersville is located in Estill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wagersville
- Lynch Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Lynch Town is located in Estill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Town
- Furnace
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Furnace is located in Estill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace
- Ravenna
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Irvine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Tyner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Tyner is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
- Gray Hawk
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Gray Hawk is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gray Hawk
- Annville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Foxtown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Foxtown is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxtown
- McKee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dabolt
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Dabolt is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dabolt
- Waneta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Waneta is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waneta
- Knott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Fisty
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Fisty is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisty
- Emmalena
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Emmalena is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmalena
- Carrie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Carrie is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Tina
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Tina is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tina
- Vest
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sassafras
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hindman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Athol
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Athol is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athol
- Lone
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lone is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone
- Tallega
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Tallega is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallega
- Primrose
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Primrose is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
- Saint Helens
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Williba
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Williba is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williba
- Vada
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Vada is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vada
- Beattyville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Idamay
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Idamay is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idamay
- Fincastle
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fincastle is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fincastle
- Heidelberg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Heidelberg is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heidelberg
- Zoe
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Zoe is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zoe
- Leslie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Confluence
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Confluence is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confluence
- Sizerock
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Sizerock is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sizerock
- Thousandsticks
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Thousandsticks is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thousandsticks
- Bear Branch
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bear Branch is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Branch
- Hyden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Wooton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wooton is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooton
- Wendover
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Smilax
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Smilax is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smilax
- Stinnett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Stinnett is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinnett
- Essie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Essie is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essie
- Hoskinston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hoskinston is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskinston
- Asher
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Asher is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asher
- Magoffin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Netty
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Netty is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Netty
- Ova
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ova is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ova
- Hendricks
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hendricks is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendricks
- Elsie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Elsie is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elsie
- Lakeville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lakeville is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeville
- Sublett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sublett is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sublett
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Maytown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Maytown is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maytown
- Cannel City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cannel City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannel City
- Mize
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Mize is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mize
- Grassy Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Grassy Creek is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy Creek
- Owsley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Lerose
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lerose is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lerose
- Ricetown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ricetown is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricetown
- Sebastian
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sebastian is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastian
- Booneville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Southfork
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Southfork is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southfork
- Mistletoe
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mistletoe is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mistletoe
- Pebworth
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Pebworth is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebworth
- Island City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Island City is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island City
- Travellers Rest
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Travellers Rest is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Travellers Rest
- Vincent
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Vincent is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincent
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Buckhorn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Gays Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gays Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays Creek
- Chavies
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Chavies is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chavies
- Saul
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Saul is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saul
- Krypton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Krypton is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Krypton
- Dice
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Dice is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dice
- Busy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Busy is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busy
- Yerkes
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Yerkes is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkes
- Stacy
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Stacy is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacy
- Butterfly
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Butterfly is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfly
- Bonnyman
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bonnyman is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnyman
- Ary
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Powell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Barker Branch
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Barker Branch is located in Powell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Branch
- South Fork
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- South Fork is located in Powell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Fork
- Slade
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cat Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cat Creek is located in Powell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cat Creek
- Knowlton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Knowlton is located in Powell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
- Wolfe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Bethany
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Bethany is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
- Mary
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Mary is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mary
- Campton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lexie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lexie is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexie
- Rogers
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Pine Ridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Belknap
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Belknap is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
- Lee City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lee City is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee City
- Hazel Green
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hazel Green is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Green
- Helechawa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Helechawa is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helechawa
- Toliver
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Toliver is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toliver
- Valeria
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Valeria is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Houston, see our County-by-County Page for Houston.
Cemeteries Near Houston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Houston.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Houston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Houston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Turner Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Griffith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Noble Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Griffith Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Holland Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Combs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Callahan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Keen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pennington Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Anderson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Johnson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Turner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (553 more) ...
- Stamper Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Herald Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Spicer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>
While we didn't find Houston in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Houston.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Jetts Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jetts Creek is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jetts Creek
- Crockettsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Crockettsville is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crockettsville
- Shoulderblade
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Shoulderblade is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoulderblade
- Copebranch
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Copebranch is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copebranch
- Eversole
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Eversole is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eversole
- Athol
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Athol is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athol
- Chenowee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Chenowee is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chenowee
- Southfork
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Southfork is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southfork
- Sebastian
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sebastian is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastian
- Tallega
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Tallega is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallega
- Gays Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gays Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays Creek
- Elkatawa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Elkatawa is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkatawa
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Conkling
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Conkling is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conkling
- Monica
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Monica is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monica
- Lost Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lost Creek is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Houston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Houston.
Newspapers Published in Houston ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 13 newspapers that have been published in the area around Houston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Houston, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Houston.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Houston:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Breathitt County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Estill County
- Jackson County
- Knott County
- Lee County
- Leslie County
- Magoffin County
- Morgan County
- Owsley County
- Perry County
- Powell County
- Wolfe County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Kentucky
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <3> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Houston, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Houston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |