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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 Jenkins (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 Jenkins. 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.

Name Variations for Jenkins ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

While the name of this city is Jenkins, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Jenkins may originally have been Jenkin's.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Jenkins. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Jenkins.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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.

Jenkins is located in Letcher 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 Letcher County: Harlan, Knott, Perry, Pike & Wise (VA).

Below are the counties that are near Jenkins. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Jenkins:

  • Letcher County     (The home county of Jenkins)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jenkins, with the one closest to Jenkins listed first.
    • Burdine
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Burdine is located in Letcher County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdine
    • McRoberts
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Cromona
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Cromona is located in Letcher County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromona
    • Hemphill
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Fleming - Neon
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Fleming - Neon is located in Letcher County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming - Neon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 610 people
    • Neon
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Tolliver Town
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Whitaker
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Seco
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Seco is located in Letcher County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seco
    • Millstone
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Millstone is located in Letcher County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millstone
    • Farraday
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Mayking
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Sergent
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Floyd County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jenkins, with the one closest to Jenkins listed first.
    • Weeksbury
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Weeksbury is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeksbury
    • Melvin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Melvin is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
    • Wheelwright
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Wheelwright is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelwright
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
    • Bypro
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Wheelwright Junction
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Beaver
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Hi Hat
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Teaberry
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Teaberry is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaberry
    • Galveston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Dema
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Dema is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dema
    • McDowell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Osborn
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Minnie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
  • Harlan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jenkins, with the one closest to Jenkins listed first.
    • Lynch
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Benham
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Cumberland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Chad
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Holmes Mill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Holmes Mill is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes Mill
    • Closplint
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Closplint is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Closplint
  • Knott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jenkins, with the one closest to Jenkins listed first.
    • Kite
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Kite is located in Knott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
    • Pine Top
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Pippa Passes
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Pippa Passes is located in Knott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pippa Passes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
    • Redfox
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Raven
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Raven is located in Knott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
    • Littcarr
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Littcarr is located in Knott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littcarr
    • Garner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Garner is located in Knott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
    • Leburn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mousie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Hindman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Sassafras
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Carrie
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Tina
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
  • Magoffin County
    • Gunlock
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Gunlock is located in Magoffin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunlock
  • Perry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jenkins, with the one closest to Jenkins listed first.
    • Vicco
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Vicco is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vicco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 295 people
    • Cornettsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Cornettsville is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornettsville
    • Scuddy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Happy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Happy is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Happy
    • Acup
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Delphia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Delphia is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphia
    • Jeff
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Slemp
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Slemp is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slemp
    • Hardburly
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Viper
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Viper is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viper
    • Dwarf
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Tribbey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Bulan
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jenkins, with the one closest to Jenkins listed first.
    • Dorton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Myra
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Myra is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myra
    • Jonancy
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Jonancy is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonancy
    • Virgie
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Virgie is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
    • Ashcamp
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Ashcamp is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
    • Hellier
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Lookout
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Lookout is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
    • Rockhouse
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Rockhouse is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockhouse
    • Robinson Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Yeager
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Cedarville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedarville is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
    • Draffin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Marrowbone
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Buchanan County (VA)
  • Dickenson County (VA)
  • Lee County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jenkins, with the one closest to Jenkins listed first.
    • Darnell Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Darnell Town is located in Lee County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darnell Town
    • Keokee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Rawhide
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Norton City (VA)
    • Norton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Norton is located in Norton City (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,985 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Norton <2>
  • Russell County (VA)
  • Scott County (VA)
  • Wise County (VA)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Jenkins, see our County-by-County Page for Jenkins.

Cemeteries Near Jenkins ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Jenkins.

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 Jenkins - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Jenkins covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Jenkins, with the one closest to Jenkins listed first.

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.<4>

While we didn't find Jenkins in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Jenkins.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Jenkins, with the one closest to Jenkins listed first.

  • Pound
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Beefhide
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Beefhide is located in Letcher County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beefhide
  • Craftsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Craftsville is located in Letcher County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craftsville
  • Millstone
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Millstone is located in Letcher County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millstone
  • Sergent
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Flat Gap
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Flat Gap is located in Wise County (VA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Gap
  • Dorton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Deane
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Deane is located in Letcher County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deane
  • Clintwood
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Whitesburg
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Lipps
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Lipps is located in Wise County (VA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipps
  • Hall
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hall is located in Knott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hall
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Oven Fork
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Hurricane
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Hurricane is located in Wise County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurricane
    • Ashcamp
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Ashcamp is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Jenkins. See our List of 1890's Communities around Jenkins.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Jenkins ...

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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Jenkins.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Jenkins. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Jenkins and those printed in the larger area surrounding Jenkins.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<5> of Jenkins.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Jenkins:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<4>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 Jenkins, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Jenkins) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.