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 Olney (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 Olney. 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 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.
Olney is located in Hopkins 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 Hopkins County: Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, McLean, Muhlenberg & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Olney. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Olney:
- Hopkins County (The home county of Olney)
- The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
- Charleston
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Charleston is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
- Dalton
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Dalton is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalton
- Dawson Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fiddle Bow
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fiddle Bow is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiddle Bow
- Richland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Richland is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
- Saint Charles
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Saint Charles is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Charles
- Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
- Nebo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Nebo is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nebo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Manitou
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Manitou is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manitou
- Earlington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Mortons Gap
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Oak Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Oak Hill is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Madisonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Nortonville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
- Lewistown
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lewistown is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewistown
- Creswell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Creswell is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creswell
- Claxton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Claxton is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claxton
- Princeton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Crider
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Crider is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crider
- McGowan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- McGowan is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGowan
- Dulaney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dulaney is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dulaney
- Fredonia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Cobb
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Cobb is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb
- Hopson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Hopson is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopson
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
- Bainbridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bainbridge is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Empire
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Empire is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
- Crofton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gracey
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Gracey is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gracey
- Fearsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fearsville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fearsville
- Bluff Spring
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bluff Spring is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Spring
- Hopkinsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Newstead
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Newstead is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newstead
- Crittenden County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
- Piney Fork
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Piney Fork is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney Fork
- Crayne
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Crayne is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crayne
- Marion
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Dycusburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Dycusburg is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dycusburg
- Population from the 2010 Census: 26 people
- Sheridan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Sheridan is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Tolu
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tolu is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolu
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
- Pinckneyville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pinckneyville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinckneyville
- Salem
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Tiline
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Tiline is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiline
- Lake City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lake City is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Grand Rivers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Lola is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lola
- Lyon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
- Fairview
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Eddyville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Lamasco
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Lamasco is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamasco
- Kuttawa
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Carmack
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Carmack is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmack
- Muhlenberg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
- Earles
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Earles is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earles
- Graham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Graham is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Bancroft
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Bancroft is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Depoy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Depoy is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Depoy
- Lynn City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Lynn City is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn City
- Trigg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
- Cerulean
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Wallonia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Wallonia is located in Trigg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallonia
- Trigg Furnace
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Trigg Furnace is located in Trigg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trigg Furnace
- Cadiz
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Caledonia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Caledonia is located in Trigg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
- Sullivan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sullivan is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
- Sturgis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Grangertown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Grangertown is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grangertown
- Dekoven
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dekoven is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dekoven
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
- Providence
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Lisman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lisman is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisman
- Clay
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Blackford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Blackford is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackford
- West Wheatcroft
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- West Wheatcroft is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Wheatcroft
- Wheatcroft
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Wheatcroft is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatcroft
- Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
- Vanderburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Vanderburg is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanderburg
- Dixon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Dixon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 877 people
- Free Union
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Free Union is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Free Union
- Slaughters
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Slaughters is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughters
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Poole
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Onton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Onton is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onton
- Sebree
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hardin County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
- Cave-In-Rock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cave-In-Rock is located in Hardin County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave-In-Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Cave-In-Rock has also been known as:
- Cave-In-Rock village
- Lamb
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lamb is located in Hardin County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamb
- Saline Landing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Saline Landing is located in Hardin County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline Landing
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Olney, see our County-by-County Page for Olney.
Cemeteries Near Olney ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Olney.
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 Olney - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Olney covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
- McNealy Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jackson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- McGregor Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Young Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Drennan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Goodaker - Gregor Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- McNeely Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Old Beulah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brooks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ray Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Roberts Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Beckner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (430 more) ...
- Jones Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Perry Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Calvert Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Olney in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Olney.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
- Dalton
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Dalton is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalton
- Rufus
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Rufus is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rufus
- Creswell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Creswell is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creswell
- Claxton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Claxton is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claxton
- Princeton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ilsley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Ilsley is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ilsley
- Shady Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shady Grove is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- White Sulphur
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- White Sulphur is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Sulphur
- Scottsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Scottsburg is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsburg
- Crider
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Crider is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crider
- Friendship
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Friendship is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Enon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Enon is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enon
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- McGowan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- McGowan is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGowan
- Saint Charles
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Saint Charles is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Charles
- Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
- Providence
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Olney. See our List of 1890's Communities around Olney.
Newspapers Published in Olney ...
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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Olney.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Olney, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Olney.
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 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 Olney:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Hopkins County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Caldwell County
- Christian County
- Crittenden County
- Livingston County
- Lyon County
- Muhlenberg County
- Trigg County
- Union County
- Webster County
- Hardin 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> | 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 Olney, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Olney) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |