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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 Layman (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 Layman. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

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 north 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.

Layman is located in Harlan 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 Harlan County: Bell, Leslie, Letcher, Perry, Lee (VA) & Wise (VA).

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

  • Harlan County     (The home county of Layman)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Layman, with the one closest to Layman listed first.
    • Coldiron
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Tacky Town
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Tacky Town is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacky Town
    • Wallins Creek
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Wallins Creek is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallins Creek
      • Estimated population in 2016: 146 people
    • South Wallins
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • South Wallins is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wallins
    • Pathfork
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Pathfork is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pathfork
    • Twila
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Twila is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twila
    • Loyall
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Loyall is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
    • Baxter
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Harlan
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Mary Alice
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Mary Alice is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mary Alice
    • Bledsoe
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Bledsoe is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bledsoe
    • Rosspoint
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Rosspoint is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosspoint
  • Bell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Layman, with the one closest to Layman listed first.
    • Stoney Fork
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Stoney Fork is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Fork
    • Callaway
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Callaway is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callaway
    • Beverly
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Beverly is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
    • Miracle
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Miracle is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miracle
    • Kettle Island
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Kettle Island is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettle Island
    • Varilla
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Varilla is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varilla
    • Jenson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Jenson is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenson
    • Rella
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Rella is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rella
    • Sims Fork
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Sims Fork is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sims Fork
    • Arjay
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Arjay is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arjay
    • Calvin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Calvin is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
    • Straight Creek
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Straight Creek is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straight Creek
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Layman, with the one closest to Layman listed first.
    • Ashers Fork
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Ashers Fork is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashers Fork
    • Brightshade
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Brightshade is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brightshade
    • Goose Rock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Goose Rock is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Rock
    • Big Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Big Creek is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
    • Eriline
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Eriline is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eriline
    • Garrard
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Garrard is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrard
    • Hima
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Hima is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hima
    • Manchester
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Barcreek
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Barcreek is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barcreek
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Layman, with the one closest to Layman listed first.
    • Scalf
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Scalf is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalf
    • Walker
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Walker is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
    • Dewitt
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Dewitt is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewitt
    • Flat Lick
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Flat Lick is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Lick
    • Trosper
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Trosper is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trosper
    • Artemus
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Artemus is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artemus
    • Bimble
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Hinkle
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Hinkle is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinkle
    • Warren
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Warren is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
    • Cannon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Cannon is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
    • Girdler
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Girdler is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdler
    • Wheeler
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Wheeler is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
  • Laurel County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Layman, with the one closest to Layman listed first.
    • Bush
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bush is located in Laurel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
    • Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake is located in Laurel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
  • Leslie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Layman, with the one closest to Layman listed first.
    • Warbranch
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Warbranch is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warbranch
    • Helton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Helton is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
    • Mozelle
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Mozelle is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mozelle
    • Roark
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Roark is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roark
    • Chappell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Chappell is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chappell
    • Asher
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Asher is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asher
    • Essie
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Essie is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essie
    • Hoskinston
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Hoskinston is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskinston
    • Stinnett
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Stinnett is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinnett
    • Wendover
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Cutshin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Cutshin is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutshin
    • Yeaddiss
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Yeaddiss is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeaddiss
  • Letcher County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Layman, with the one closest to Layman listed first.
    • Gordon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Gordon is located in Letcher County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
    • Hallie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Perry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Layman, with the one closest to Layman listed first.
    • Delphia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Delphia is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphia
    • Slemp
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Slemp is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slemp
    • Avawam
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Avawam is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avawam
    • Cornettsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Cornettsville is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornettsville
    • Viper
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Viper is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viper
    • Saul
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Saul is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saul
  • Whitley County
    • Siler
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Siler is located in Whitley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siler
  • Claiborne County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Layman, with the one closest to Layman listed first.
    • Cumberland Gap
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Shawanee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Shawanee is located in Claiborne County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawanee
    • Harrogate
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Harrogate is located in Claiborne County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrogate
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,362 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Harrogate <1>
    • Minton Mill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Minton Mill is located in Claiborne County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minton Mill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 527 people
    • Tazewell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Tazewell is located in Claiborne County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,275 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tazewell <1>
    • New Tazewell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Caney Valley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Caney Valley is located in Claiborne County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney Valley
    • Springdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Springdale is located in Claiborne County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
    • Evans Ferry
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Evans Ferry is located in Claiborne County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans Ferry
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 293 people
    • Head of Barren
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Head of Barren is located in Claiborne County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Head of Barren
    • Raven Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Raven Hill is located in Claiborne County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven Hill
    • Pruden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Pruden is located in Claiborne County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruden
  • Hancock County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Layman, with the one closest to Layman listed first.
    • Alanthus Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Alanthus Hill is located in Hancock County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alanthus Hill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,498 people
    • Xenophon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Xenophon is located in Hancock County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenophon
    • Sneedville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Duck Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Duck Creek is located in Hancock County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duck Creek
    • Trent Valley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Trent Valley is located in Hancock County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trent Valley
      • Estimated population in 2014: 4,157 people
    • Kyles Ford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Willis
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Willis is located in Hancock County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willis
      • Estimated population in 2014: 387 people
    • Yount Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Yount Town is located in Hancock County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yount Town
  • Lee County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Layman, with the one closest to Layman listed first.
    • Rose Hill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Ewing
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Wheeler
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Wheeler is located in Lee County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
    • Hubbard Springs
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Hubbard Springs is located in Lee County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubbard Springs
    • Fleenortown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Fleenortown is located in Lee County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleenortown
    • Jonesville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Saint Charles
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Saint Charles is located in Lee County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Charles
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
    • Van
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Van is located in Lee County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van
    • Pennington Gap
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Pennington Gap is located in Lee County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington Gap
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,708 people
    • Ely
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Ely is located in Lee County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ely
    • Blackwater
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Blackwater is located in Lee County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwater
    • Dryden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Dryden is located in Lee County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dryden

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

Cemeteries Near Layman ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Layman.

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

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

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

  • Coldiron Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Jesse Brock Family Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • A.D. Johnson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Hall Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Tackett Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Saylor Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Gross Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Resthaven Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Honey Branch Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Balkan Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Jackson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Gross Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (717 more) ...
    • Taylors Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylors Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Taylors Cemetery is located outside and to the west of Callaway.
    • Beech Grove Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Johnson Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson Cemetery
      • The Johnson Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Johnson Family Cemetery

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 Layman in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Layman.

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

  • Wallins Creek
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Wallins Creek is located in Harlan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallins Creek
    • Estimated population in 2016: 146 people
  • Creech
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Creech is located in Harlan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creech
  • Callaway
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Callaway is located in Bell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callaway
  • Harlan
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Baxter
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Cubage
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Cubage is located in Bell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cubage
  • Helton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Helton is located in Leslie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
  • Rose Hill
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Boons Path
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Boons Path is located in Lee County (VA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boons Path
  • Pineville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Wasioto
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Wasioto is located in Bell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasioto
  • Ewing
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Hagan
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Hagan is located in Lee County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagan
    • Evarts
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Walker
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Walker is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker

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

Newspapers Published in Layman ...

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 14 newspapers that have been published in the area around Layman.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Layman, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Layman.

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 websites either 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 Layman:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Layman) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Layman, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.