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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 Sidell (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 Sidell. 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.

Sidell 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 Sidell. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sidell:

  • Clay County     (The home county of Sidell)
  • Bell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sidell, with the one closest to Sidell listed first.
    • Beverly
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Rella
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Fourmile
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Fourmile is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fourmile
    • Sims Fork
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Arjay
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Stoney Fork
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Stoney Fork is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Fork
    • Dorton Branch
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Dorton Branch is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorton Branch
    • Jenson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Pineville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Straight Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Straight Creek is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straight Creek
    • Kettle Island
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Kettle Island is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettle Island
  • Breathitt County
  • Estill County
  • Harlan County
    • Tacky Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Tacky Town is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacky Town
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sidell, with the one closest to Sidell listed first.
    • Annville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Tyner
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Tyner is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
    • Dabolt
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Dabolt is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dabolt
    • Peoples
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Peoples is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoples
    • Gray Hawk
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • McKee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Waneta
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Waneta is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waneta
    • Foxtown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Sandgap
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Sandgap is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandgap
    • Kerby Knob
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sidell, with the one closest to Sidell listed first.
    • Woollum
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Woollum is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woollum
    • Crane Nest
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Girdler
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Cannon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Cannon is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
    • Hinkle
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Hinkle is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinkle
    • Gray
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Scalf
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Scalf is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalf
    • Bimble
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Heidrick
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • North Corbin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • North Corbin is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Corbin
    • Barbourville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Dewitt
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Dewitt is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewitt
    • Walker
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Walker is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
  • Laurel County
  • Lee County
  • Leslie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sidell, with the one closest to Sidell listed first.
    • Bear Branch
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Bear Branch is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Branch
    • Sizerock
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Roark
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Thousandsticks
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Thousandsticks is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thousandsticks
    • Essie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Essie is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essie
    • Confluence
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Confluence is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confluence
    • Hyden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Stinnett
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Stinnett is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinnett
    • Hoskinston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Hoskinston is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskinston
    • Wendover
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Asher
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Mozelle
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Warbranch
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Warbranch is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warbranch
  • Owsley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sidell, with the one closest to Sidell listed first.
    • Island City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Island City is located in Owsley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island City
    • Mistletoe
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Mistletoe is located in Owsley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mistletoe
    • Sebastian
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Travellers Rest
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Ricetown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Ricetown is located in Owsley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricetown
    • Southfork
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Vincent
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Vincent is located in Owsley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincent
    • Booneville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Pebworth
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Lerose
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Lerose is located in Owsley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lerose
  • Perry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sidell, with the one closest to Sidell listed first.
    • Saul
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Saul is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saul
    • Buckhorn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Gays Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Gays Creek is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays Creek
    • Krypton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Chavies
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Busy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Busy is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busy
    • Yerkes
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Avawam
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Pulaski County
  • Rockcastle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sidell, with the one closest to Sidell listed first.
    • Livingston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Mullins
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Mullins is located in Rockcastle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mullins
    • Orlando
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Climax
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Renfro Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Wildie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Wildie is located in Rockcastle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildie
    • Hansford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Mount Vernon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Whitley County

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

Cemeteries Near Sidell ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sidell.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sidell, with the one closest to Sidell 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 in 1895, Sidell had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Burning Springs
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Manchester
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Pigeonroost
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Pigeonroost is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeonroost
  • Laurel Creek
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Benge
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Benge is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benge
  • Larue
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Tanksley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Tanksley is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanksley
  • Marydell
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Crawford
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Crawford is located in Laurel County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
  • Langnau
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Langnau is located in Laurel County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langnau
  • Ammie
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Ammie is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ammie
  • Sextons Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Cane Creek
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Cane Creek is located in Laurel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
    • Goose Rock
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Goose Rock is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Rock
    • Welchburg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Welchburg is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welchburg

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

Newspapers Published in Sidell ...

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 Sidell.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sidell, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sidell.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Sidell:

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