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 Olcott (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 Olcott. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Olcott is located in Bell 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 Bell County: Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie, Whitley, Claiborne (TN) & Lee (VA).
Below are the counties that are near Olcott. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Olcott:
- Bell County (The home county of Olcott)
- The following are listed by their distance from Olcott, with the one closest to Olcott listed first.
- Ingram
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ingram is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingram
- Capito
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Capito is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capito
- Edgewood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Edgewood is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Fonde
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Fonde is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fonde
- Frakes
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Frakes is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frakes
- Premier
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Premier is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Premier
- Stony Fork Junction
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Stony Fork Junction is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Fork Junction
- Yellow Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Yellow Creek is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- Pearl
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pearl is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl
- Pruden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pruden is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruden
- Fourmile
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fourmile is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fourmile
- Middlesboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pineville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olcott, with the one closest to Olcott listed first.
- Brightshade
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Brightshade is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brightshade
- Ashers Fork
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ashers Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashers Fork
- Goose Rock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Goose Rock is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Rock
- Garrard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Garrard is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrard
- Hima
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hima is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hima
- Harlan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olcott, with the one closest to Olcott listed first.
- Pathfork
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Pathfork is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pathfork
- Tacky Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Tacky Town is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacky Town
- Coldiron
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- South Wallins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- South Wallins is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wallins
- Twila
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Twila is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twila
- Wallins Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wallins Creek is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallins Creek
- Estimated population in 2016: 146 people
- Mary Alice
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Mary Alice is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mary Alice
- Loyall
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Loyall is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Harlan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Baxter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bledsoe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bledsoe is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bledsoe
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olcott, with the one closest to Olcott listed first.
- Wheeler
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Wheeler is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Warren
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Warren is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
- Trosper
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Trosper is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trosper
- Bryants Store
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bryants Store is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryants Store
- Artemus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Artemus is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artemus
- Flat Lick
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Flat Lick is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Lick
- Barbourville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Bimble
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Heidrick
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Heidrick is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heidrick
- Dewitt
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Dewitt is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewitt
- Cannon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Cannon is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
- Hinkle
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Hinkle is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinkle
- Walker
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Walker is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Laurel County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olcott, with the one closest to Olcott listed first.
- Dorthae
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dorthae is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorthae
- Hopewell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hopewell is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Lily
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lily is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily
- Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Lake is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
- Bush
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bush is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Keavy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Keavy is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keavy
- Marydell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Marydell is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydell
- Leslie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olcott, with the one closest to Olcott listed first.
- Warbranch
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Warbranch is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warbranch
- Roark
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Roark is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roark
- Helton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Helton is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Whitley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olcott, with the one closest to Olcott listed first.
- Siler
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Siler is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siler
- Louden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Louden is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louden
- Nevisdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Nevisdale is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nevisdale
- Packard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Packard is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packard
- Verne
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Verne is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verne
- Lot
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lot is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lot
- Fairview
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fairview is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Pleasant View
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Pleasant View is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Red Ash
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Red Ash is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Ash
- Saxton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Saxton is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxton
- Emlyn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Emlyn is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emlyn
- Rockholds
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Rockholds is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockholds
- Williamsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Campbell County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Olcott, with the one closest to Olcott listed first.
- Morley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Morley is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- White Oak
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- White Oak is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Jellico
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Habersham
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Habersham is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Habersham
- Flat Hollow
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Flat Hollow is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Hollow
- Stockville ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Stockville is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockville
- Fincastle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fincastle is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fincastle
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,618 people
- Victory
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Victory is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victory
- Girlton ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Girlton is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girlton
- Boy ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Boy is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boy
- Elk Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Elk Valley is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Valley
- Estimated population in 2014: 565 people
- LaFollette
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- LaFollette is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaFollette
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,585 people
- LaFollette has also been known as:
- Big Creek Gap
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for LaFollette <1>
- Demory
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Demory is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Demory
- Claiborne County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Olcott, with the one closest to Olcott listed first.
- Pruden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pruden is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruden
- Hamlin Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hamlin Town is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin Town
- Cumberland Gap
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clairfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Clairfield is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clairfield
- Harrogate
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Minton Mill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Minton Mill is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minton Mill
- Estimated population in 2014: 527 people
- Shawanee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Shawanee is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawanee
- Speedwell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Goin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Goin is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goin
- Big Barren
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Big Barren is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Barren
- Head of Barren
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Head of Barren is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Head of Barren
- New Tazewell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sandlick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sandlick is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandlick
- Grainger County (TN)
- Washburn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Washburn is located in Grainger County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washburn
- Hancock County (TN)
- Alanthus Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Alanthus Hill is located in Hancock County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alanthus Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,498 people
- Union County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Olcott, with the one closest to Olcott listed first.
- Braden
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Braden is located in Union County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braden
- Estimated population in 2014: 277 people
- Phebe ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Phebe is located in Union County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phebe
- Long Hollow ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Long Hollow is located in Union County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Hollow
- Rhodelia ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Rhodelia is located in Union County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodelia
- Haynes ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Haynes is located in Union County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
- Loo ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Loo is located in Union County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loo
- Lost Creek ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lost Creek is located in Union County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
- Loyston ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Loyston is located in Union County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyston
- Maynardville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lee County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Olcott, with the one closest to Olcott listed first.
- Wheeler
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Wheeler is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Ewing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rose Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Olcott, see our County-by-County Page for Olcott.
Cemeteries Near Olcott ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Olcott.
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 Olcott - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Olcott covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Olcott, with the one closest to Olcott listed first.
- Head Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Lee Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Chenoa Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Partin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Mason Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Fox Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Partin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jones Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Henderson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Partin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Browns Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Browns Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (854 more) ...
- Jones Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bratcher Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Carroll Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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>
While we didn't find Olcott in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Olcott.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Olcott, with the one closest to Olcott listed first.
- Ingram
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ingram is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingram
- Carpenter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Carpenter is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Middlesboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bryants Store
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bryants Store is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryants Store
- Wasioto
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wasioto is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasioto
- Pineville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cumberland Gap
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Artemus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Artemus is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artemus
- Flat Lick
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Flat Lick is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Lick
- Clairfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Clairfield is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clairfield
- Barbourville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Harrogate
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Pleasant ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Pleasant is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant
- Arthur
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Arthur is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
- Lot
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lot is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lot
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Olcott. See our List of 1890's Communities around Olcott.
Newspapers Published in Olcott ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Olcott.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Olcott, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Olcott.
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 Olcott:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Bell County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Harlan County
- Knox County
- Laurel County
- Leslie County
- Whitley County
- Campbell County
- Claiborne County
- Grainger County
- Hancock County
- Union County
- Lee 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 Olcott, 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- Olcott) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |