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 Park Valley (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 Park Valley. 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 Park Valley ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Park Valley: Park Vly. (or less commonly used: Park Vally. or Park Vlly.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Park Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Park Valley.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Park Valley is located in Clay 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 Clay County: Bell, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Leslie, Owsley & Perry.
Below are the counties that are near Park Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Park Valley:
- Clay County (The home county of Park Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Park Valley, with the one closest to Park Valley listed first.
- Hima
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hima is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hima
- Garrard
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Garrard is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrard
- Goose Rock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Goose Rock is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Rock
- Manchester
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Urban
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Urban is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urban
- Brightshade
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Brightshade is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brightshade
- Sidell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sidell is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidell
- Fall Rock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Fall Rock is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Rock
- Burning Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Burning Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burning Springs
- Fogertown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fogertown is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fogertown
- Larue
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Larue is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larue
- Ashers Fork
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ashers Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashers Fork
- Bell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Park Valley, with the one closest to Park Valley listed first.
- Beverly
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Beverly is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Rella
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Rella is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rella
- Sims Fork
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Sims Fork is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sims Fork
- Fourmile
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Fourmile is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fourmile
- Arjay
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Arjay is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arjay
- Dorton Branch
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Dorton Branch is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorton Branch
- Straight Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Straight Creek is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straight Creek
- Stoney Fork
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Stoney Fork is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Fork
- Jenson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Jenson is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenson
- Pineville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Kettle Island
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kettle Island is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettle Island
- Callaway
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Callaway is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callaway
- Harlan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Park Valley, with the one closest to Park Valley listed first.
- Tacky Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tacky Town is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacky Town
- Coldiron
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bledsoe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bledsoe is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bledsoe
- Wallins Creek
(26 miles [41.8 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
- South Wallins
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- South Wallins is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wallins
- Baxter
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Loyall
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Loyall is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Pathfork
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pathfork is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pathfork
- Harlan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Twila
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Twila is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twila
- Rosspoint
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rosspoint is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosspoint
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Park Valley, with the one closest to Park Valley listed first.
- Tyner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Tyner is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
- Annville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Peoples
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Peoples is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoples
- Dabolt
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Dabolt is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dabolt
- Gray Hawk
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Gray Hawk is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gray Hawk
- McKee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Waneta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Waneta is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waneta
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Park Valley, with the one closest to Park Valley listed first.
- Woollum
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Woollum is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woollum
- Crane Nest
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Crane Nest is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crane Nest
- Girdler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Girdler is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdler
- Hinkle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Hinkle is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinkle
- Scalf
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Scalf is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalf
- Cannon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Cannon is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
- Walker
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Walker is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Bimble
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Dewitt
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Dewitt is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewitt
- Heidrick
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Heidrick is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heidrick
- Barbourville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Gray
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel County
- The following are listed by their distance from Park Valley, with the one closest to Park Valley listed first.
- Bush
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bush is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Lake is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
- Marydell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Marydell is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydell
- Maplesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Maplesville is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maplesville
- Lily
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Lily is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily
- Sublimity City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Sublimity City is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sublimity City
- London
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Greenmount
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Greenmount is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenmount
- Dorthae
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Dorthae is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorthae
- Hopewell
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hopewell is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Pittsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Pittsburg is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
- East Bernstadt
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Lee County
- Idamay
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Idamay is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idamay
- Leslie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Park Valley, with the one closest to Park Valley listed first.
- Bear Branch
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bear Branch is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Branch
- Roark
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Roark is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roark
- Essie
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Essie is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essie
- Sizerock
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Sizerock is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sizerock
- Warbranch
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Warbranch is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warbranch
- Asher
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Asher is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asher
- Thousandsticks
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Thousandsticks is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thousandsticks
- Hoskinston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Hoskinston is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskinston
- Mozelle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Mozelle is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mozelle
- Stinnett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Stinnett is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinnett
- Helton
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Helton is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Hyden
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Owsley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Park Valley, with the one closest to Park Valley listed first.
- Island City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Island City is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island City
- Mistletoe
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mistletoe is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mistletoe
- Sebastian
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Sebastian is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastian
- Ricetown
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Ricetown is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricetown
- Southfork
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Southfork is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southfork
- Travellers Rest
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Travellers Rest is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Travellers Rest
- Vincent
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Vincent is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincent
- Booneville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lerose
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lerose is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lerose
- Pebworth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Pebworth is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebworth
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Park Valley, with the one closest to Park Valley listed first.
- Saul
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Saul is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saul
- Buckhorn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Gays Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Gays Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays Creek
- Avawam
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Avawam is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avawam
- Chavies
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chavies is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chavies
- Krypton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Krypton is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Krypton
- Yerkes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Yerkes is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkes
- Busy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Busy is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busy
- Rockcastle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Park Valley, with the one closest to Park Valley listed first.
- Livingston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mullins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mullins is located in Rockcastle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mullins
- Whitley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Park Valley, with the one closest to Park Valley listed first.
- Corbin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Woodbine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Woodbine is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbine
- Rockholds
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rockholds is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockholds
- Louden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Louden is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louden
- Siler
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Siler is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siler
- Verne
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Verne is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verne
- Nevisdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nevisdale is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nevisdale
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Park Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Park Valley.
Cemeteries Near Park Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Park Valley.
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 Park Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Park Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Park Valley, with the one closest to Park Valley listed first.
- Cottongim Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Bundy - Delph Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ruth Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth Cemetery
- The Ruth Cemetery has also been known as:
- Buzzard Creek Road Cemetery
- Sizemore - Asher Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Williams Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Smith Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Engine Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Roberts Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Eli Marcum Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eli Marcum Cemetery
- The Eli Marcum Cemetery has also been known as:
- Marcum Cemetery
- Hurd Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurd Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Hurd Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<3> to the west of Hima.
- The Hurd Cemetery has also been known as:
- Herd Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #74535 <2>
- Swafford Branch Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Smith's Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (508 more) ...
- Garrard Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Vaughn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Coy 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.<4>
While we didn't find Park Valley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Park Valley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Park Valley, with the one closest to Park Valley listed first.
- Pigeonroost
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pigeonroost is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeonroost
- Goose Rock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Goose Rock is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Rock
- Manchester
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Brightshade
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Brightshade is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brightshade
- Marydell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Marydell is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydell
- Cane Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Cane Creek is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Crane Nest
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Crane Nest is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crane Nest
- Sidell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sidell is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidell
- Tuttle
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tuttle is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuttle
- Girdler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Girdler is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdler
- Tanksley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Tanksley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanksley
- Fletcher
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fletcher is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Burning Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Burning Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burning Springs
- Laurel Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Laurel Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Creek
- Larue
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Larue is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larue
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Park Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Park Valley.
Newspapers Published in Park Valley ...
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 10 newspapers that have been published in the area around Park Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Park Valley, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Park Valley.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Park Valley:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Clay County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bell County
- Harlan County
- Jackson County
- Knox County
- Laurel County
- Lee County
- Leslie County
- Owsley County
- Perry County
- Rockcastle County
- Whitley 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Park Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Park Valley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |