RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Kentucky >> Leslie County >> Roark >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Roark (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 Roark. 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 and hospitals 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.

Roark is located in Leslie 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 Leslie County: Bell, Clay, Harlan & Perry.

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

  • Leslie County     (The home county of Roark)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
    • Essie
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Essie is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essie
    • Asher
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Mozelle
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Warbranch
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Warbranch is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warbranch
    • Hoskinston
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Hoskinston is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskinston
    • Stinnett
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Stinnett is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinnett
    • Helton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Helton is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
    • Chappell
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Bear Branch
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Bear Branch is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Branch
    • Wendover
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hyden
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Thousandsticks
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Thousandsticks is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thousandsticks
  • Bell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
    • Beverly
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Stoney Fork
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Stoney Fork is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Fork
    • Rella
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Sims Fork
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Callaway
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Kettle Island
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Kettle Island is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettle Island
    • Arjay
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jenson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Miracle
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Miracle is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miracle
    • Dorton Branch
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Dorton Branch is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorton Branch
    • Straight Creek
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Straight Creek is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straight Creek
    • Fourmile
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Fourmile is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fourmile
  • Breathitt County
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
    • Ashers Fork
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Brightshade
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Big Creek
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Goose Rock
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Goose Rock is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Rock
    • Eriline
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Eriline is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eriline
    • Garrard
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Garrard is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrard
    • Barcreek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Barcreek is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barcreek
    • Hima
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Manchester
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Oneida
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Laurel Creek
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Fall Rock
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Fall Rock is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Rock
  • Harlan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
    • Bledsoe
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Bledsoe is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bledsoe
    • Tacky Town
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Tacky Town is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacky Town
    • Coldiron
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Wallins Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 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
    • Baxter
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Loyall
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Rosspoint
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • South Wallins
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • South Wallins is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wallins
    • Big Laurel
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Big Laurel is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Laurel
    • Harlan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Pathfork
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Coxton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Jackson County
    • Tyner
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Tyner is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
  • Knott County
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
    • Scalf
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Scalf is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalf
    • Walker
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Walker is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
    • Dewitt
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Dewitt is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewitt
    • Woollum
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Woollum is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woollum
    • Hinkle
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Hinkle is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinkle
    • Girdler
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Flat Lick
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Bimble
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Cannon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Cannon is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
    • Crane Nest
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Artemus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Artemus is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artemus
    • Heidrick
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Laurel County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
    • Bush
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Bush is located in Laurel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
    • Lake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Marydell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Maplesville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Lily
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Letcher County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
    • Gordon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Gordon is located in Letcher County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
    • Hallie
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Blackey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Linefork
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Owsley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
    • Mistletoe
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Mistletoe is located in Owsley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mistletoe
    • Sebastian
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Ricetown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Ricetown is located in Owsley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricetown
    • Southfork
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Island City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Island City is located in Owsley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island City
  • Perry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
    • Saul
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Saul is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saul
    • Avawam
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Gays Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Gays Creek is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays Creek
    • Busy
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Busy is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busy
    • Yerkes
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Slemp
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Slemp is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slemp
    • Buckhorn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Butterfly
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Krypton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Chavies
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Bonnyman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Bonnyman is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnyman
    • Combs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Combs is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Combs
  • Claiborne County (TN)
  • Lee County (VA)

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

Cemeteries Near Roark ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Roark.

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

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

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

While we didn't find Roark in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Roark.

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

  • Spring Creek
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Spring Creek is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
  • Hoskinston
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Hoskinston is located in Leslie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskinston
  • Brightshade
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Helton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Helton is located in Leslie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
  • Big Creek
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Goose Rock
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Goose Rock is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Rock
  • Hyden
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Walker
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Walker is located in Knox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
  • Wallins Creek
    (14 miles [22.5 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
  • Baxter
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Cutshin
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Callaway
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Roark ...

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 8 newspapers that have been published in the area around Roark.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Roark, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Roark.

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 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 Roark:

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 from Point A (ie- Roark) 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 Roark, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.