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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 Manchester (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 Manchester. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.

Manchester is located in Clay County and is the County Seat.

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 Clay County: Bell, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Leslie, Owsley & Perry.

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

  • Clay County     (The home county of Manchester)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Manchester, with the one closest to Manchester listed first.
    • Garrard
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Garrard is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrard
    • Hima
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Fall Rock
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Fall Rock is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Rock
    • Sidell
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Urban
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Goose Rock
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Goose Rock is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Rock
    • Laurel Creek
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Burning Springs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Barcreek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Barcreek is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barcreek
    • Fogertown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Eriline
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Eriline is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eriline
    • Larue
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Benge
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Benge is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benge
  • Bell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Manchester, with the one closest to Manchester listed first.
    • Beverly
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Rella
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Sims Fork
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Arjay
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Fourmile
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Fourmile is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fourmile
    • Stoney Fork
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Stoney Fork is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Fork
    • Dorton Branch
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Dorton Branch is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorton Branch
    • Kettle Island
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Kettle Island is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettle Island
    • Straight Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Straight Creek is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straight Creek
    • Jenson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Pineville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Callaway
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Miracle
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Miracle is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miracle
  • Breathitt County
  • Harlan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Manchester, with the one closest to Manchester listed first.
    • Bledsoe
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Bledsoe is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bledsoe
    • Tacky Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Tacky Town is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacky Town
    • Coldiron
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Wallins Creek
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Wallins Creek is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallins Creek
      • Estimated population in 2016: 146 people
    • Loyall
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • South Wallins
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • South Wallins is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wallins
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Manchester, with the one closest to Manchester listed first.
    • Tyner
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Tyner is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
    • Annville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Peoples
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Peoples is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoples
    • Dabolt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Dabolt is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dabolt
    • Gray Hawk
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • McKee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Waneta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Waneta is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waneta
    • Foxtown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Sandgap
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Sandgap is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandgap
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Manchester, with the one closest to Manchester listed first.
    • Woollum
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Woollum is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woollum
    • Crane Nest
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Girdler
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Hinkle
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Hinkle is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinkle
    • Scalf
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Scalf is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalf
    • Cannon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Cannon is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
    • Walker
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Walker is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
    • Bimble
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Dewitt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Dewitt is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewitt
    • Heidrick
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Gray
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Barbourville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Artemus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Artemus is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artemus
  • Laurel County
  • Lee County
  • Leslie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Manchester, with the one closest to Manchester listed first.
    • Bear Branch
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Bear Branch is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Branch
    • Sizerock
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Roark
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Essie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Essie is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essie
    • Thousandsticks
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Thousandsticks is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thousandsticks
    • Asher
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Stinnett
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Stinnett is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinnett
    • Hoskinston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Hoskinston is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskinston
    • Hyden
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Warbranch
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Warbranch is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warbranch
    • Confluence
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Confluence is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confluence
    • Wendover
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Mozelle
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Owsley County
  • Perry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Manchester, with the one closest to Manchester listed first.
    • Saul
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Saul is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saul
    • Buckhorn
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Gays Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Gays Creek is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays Creek
    • Krypton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Yerkes
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Chavies
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Avawam
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Busy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Busy is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busy
    • Butterfly
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Bonnyman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Bonnyman is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnyman
  • Rockcastle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Manchester, with the one closest to Manchester listed first.
    • Livingston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Mullins
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Mullins is located in Rockcastle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mullins
  • Whitley County

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

Cemeteries Near Manchester ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Manchester.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Manchester, with the one closest to Manchester 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Manchester had a population of 400 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Manchester had a population of 1,277 people.

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

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

Newspapers Published in Manchester ...

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 6 newspapers that have been published in the area around Manchester.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Manchester, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Manchester.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Manchester:

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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Manchester) 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 Manchester, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.