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 LaFayette (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 LaFayette. 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 LaFayette ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: La Fayette.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named LaFayette. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for LaFayette.
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
LaFayette is located in Christian 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 Christian County: Caldwell, Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Todd, Trigg, Montgomery (TN) & Stewart (TN).
Below are the counties that are near LaFayette. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to LaFayette:
- Christian County (The home county of LaFayette)
- The following are listed by their distance from LaFayette, with the one closest to LaFayette listed first.
- Bennettstown
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bennettstown is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennettstown
- Garrettsburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Garrettsburg is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrettsburg
- Howel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Howel is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howel
- Herndon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Herndon is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
- Church Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Church Hill is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Newstead
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Newstead is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newstead
- Oak Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Gracey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Gracey is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gracey
- Hopkinsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pembroke
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bainbridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Bainbridge is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Fearsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fearsville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fearsville
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from LaFayette, with the one closest to LaFayette listed first.
- Cobb
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Cobb is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb
- Hopson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hopson is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopson
- McGowan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- McGowan is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGowan
- Claxton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Claxton is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claxton
- Lyon County
- Lamasco
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lamasco is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamasco
- Marshall County
- Aurora
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Todd County
- The following are listed by their distance from LaFayette, with the one closest to LaFayette listed first.
- Trenton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Anderson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Anderson is located in Todd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Guthrie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Elkton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Hadensville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hadensville is located in Todd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadensville
- Allegre
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Allegre is located in Todd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allegre
- Allensville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Allensville is located in Todd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allensville
- Population from the 2010 Census: 157 people
- Kirkmansville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kirkmansville is located in Todd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkmansville
- Trigg County
- The following are listed by their distance from LaFayette, with the one closest to LaFayette listed first.
- Caledonia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Caledonia is located in Trigg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Cadiz
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cerulean
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Canton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Canton is located in Trigg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Wallonia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wallonia is located in Trigg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallonia
- Trigg Furnace
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Trigg Furnace is located in Trigg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trigg Furnace
- Cheatham County (TN)
- Henrietta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Henrietta is located in Cheatham County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Estimated population in 2014: 921 people
- Dickson County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from LaFayette, with the one closest to LaFayette listed first.
- Slayden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Slayden is located in Dickson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slayden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Woods Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Woods Valley is located in Dickson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Valley
- Dunn Chapel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dunn Chapel is located in Dickson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn Chapel
- Henry County (TN)
- Oak Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Hill is located in Henry County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,703 people
- Houston County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from LaFayette, with the one closest to LaFayette listed first.
- Brownsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Brownsville is located in Houston County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Estimated population in 2014: 9,974 people
- Erin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Erin is located in Houston County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,308 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Erin <1>
- Tennessee Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- McKinnon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- McKinnon is located in Houston County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinnon
- Omega ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Omega is located in Houston County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- Montgomery County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from LaFayette, with the one closest to LaFayette listed first.
- Stryker Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Stryker Village is located in Montgomery County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stryker Village
- Oakwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Oakwood is located in Montgomery County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Woodlawn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Louise Heights
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Louise Heights is located in Montgomery County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louise Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,715 people
- Dotsonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dotsonville is located in Montgomery County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotsonville
- Clarksville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Bethlehem
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Wingate West
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wingate West is located in Montgomery County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingate West
- Estimated population in 2014: 954 people
- Swan Lake Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Swan Lake Village is located in Montgomery County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Lake Village
- Oakridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Oakridge is located in Montgomery County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakridge
- Estimated population in 2014: 29,303 people
- Louise
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Louise is located in Montgomery County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louise
- Liverworth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Liverworth is located in Montgomery County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverworth
- Sango
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sango is located in Montgomery County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sango
- Stewart County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from LaFayette, with the one closest to LaFayette listed first.
- Parker Town ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Parker Town is located in Stewart County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Town
- Legate
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Legate is located in Stewart County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legate
- Indian Mound
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bumpus Mills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Snider
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Snider is located in Stewart County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snider
- Throckmorton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Throckmorton is located in Stewart County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Throckmorton
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,692 people
- Dover
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Dover is located in Stewart County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,578 people
- Former name for Dover:
- Monroe
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dover <1>
- Cumberland City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to LaFayette, see our County-by-County Page for LaFayette.
Cemeteries Near LaFayette ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of LaFayette.
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 LaFayette - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for LaFayette covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from LaFayette, with the one closest to LaFayette listed first.
- Elliott Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Double Barn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- McGee Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hester Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Powell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Simmons Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- McKnight Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Fox Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Major Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Carter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Garrott Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Dawson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (529 more) ...
- Nancy Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Northington Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Howard Major Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that LaFayette had a population of 215 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, LaFayette had a population of 161 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from LaFayette, with the one closest to LaFayette listed first.
- Bennettstown
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bennettstown is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennettstown
- Garrettsburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Garrettsburg is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrettsburg
- Howel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Howel is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howel
- Herndon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Herndon is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
- Peedee
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Peedee is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peedee
- Roaring Spring
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Roaring Spring is located in Trigg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaring Spring
- Jordan Springs ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jordan Springs is located in Montgomery County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan Springs
- Beverly
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Beverly is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Church Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Church Hill is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Newstead
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Newstead is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newstead
- Legate
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Legate is located in Stewart County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legate
- Oak Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Big Rock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Oakwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Oakwood is located in Montgomery County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Caledonia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Caledonia is located in Trigg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around LaFayette. See our List of 1890's Communities around LaFayette.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of LaFayette ...
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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around LaFayette.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of LaFayette. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of LaFayette and those printed in the larger area surrounding LaFayette.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4> of LaFayette.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 LaFayette:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Christian County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Caldwell County
- Lyon County
- Marshall County
- Todd County
- Trigg County
- Cheatham County
- Dickson County
- Henry County
- Houston County
- Montgomery County
- Stewart 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 LaFayette, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- LaFayette) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |