RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Tennessee >> Greene County >> Afton >> 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 Afton (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 Afton. 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.

Afton is located in Greene County.

To see how the shape of Tennessee's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Greene County: Madison (NC), Cocke, Hamblen, Hawkins, Unicoi & Washington.

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

  • Greene County     (The home county of Afton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Pleasant View
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Pleasant View is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
      • Estimated population in 2014: 4,251 people
    • Tusculum
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Tusculum is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tusculum
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,669 people
    • Fairview
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Fairview is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Bolton Estates
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Bolton Estates is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton Estates
      • Estimated population in 2014: 5,152 people
    • Rheatown
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Henshaw ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Henshaw is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henshaw
      • Estimated population in 2014: 470 people
    • Forest Hills
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Forest Hills is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
      • Estimated population in 2014: 5,027 people
    • Horse Creek
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Horse Creek is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Creek
      • Estimated population in 2014: 284 people
    • Water Fork Mill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Water Fork Mill is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Fork Mill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 445 people
    • Greeneville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Centersville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Camp Creek
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Carter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Pine Crest
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Pine Crest is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Crest
    • Central
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Central is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
    • Woodby Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Woodby Hill is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodby Hill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,730 people
    • Watauga
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Gap Run
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Tolley Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Tolley Town is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolley Town
    • Biltmore
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Cocke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Wolf Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Parrottsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Del Rio
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Bybee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Nough
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • West Myers
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • West Myers is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Myers
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,282 people
    • Bridgeport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Jimtown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Tom Town
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Tom Town is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tom Town
    • Jaybird
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jaybird is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaybird
      • Estimated population in 2014: 3,299 people
    • Newport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Hamblen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Silver City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Silver City is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
    • Whitesburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • East Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • East Village is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
    • Bright ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Bright is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,942 people
    • Monte Vista Estates
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Monte Vista Estates is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monte Vista Estates
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,860 people
  • Hawkins County
  • Jefferson County
  • Sullivan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Blair Gap
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Blair Gap is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair Gap
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,870 people
    • Fordtown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Kendrick Creek ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Colonial Heights
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Wahoo ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Wahoo is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahoo
    • Beechwood Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Beechwood Village is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood Village
    • Cherokee Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Cherokee Village is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Village
    • Borden Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Borden Village is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Village
    • Colby ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Colby is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
    • Kingsport
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Beartown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Horace ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Horace is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horace
  • Unicoi County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Bumpus Cove
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Bumpus Cove is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpus Cove
      • Estimated population in 2014: 729 people
    • Clear Branch
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Ernestville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Ernestville is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ernestville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,311 people
    • Flag Pond
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Loganton ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Loganton is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganton
    • Indian Creek ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Indian Creek is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
    • Banner Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Banner Hill is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banner Hill
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,497 people
    • Erwin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Unicoi
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Whispering Pines
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Limestone Cove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Limestone
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Mill Brook
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Oakland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Nolichucky ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Nolichucky is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nolichucky
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 5,861 people
    • Conklin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Telford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Big Sandy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Big Sandy is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Sandy
      • Estimated population in 2014: 542 people
    • Bowmantown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ducktown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ducktown is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ducktown
      • Estimated population in 2014: 457 people
    • Leesburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Locust Mount
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Kansas City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Kansas City is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kansas City
  • Madison County (NC)
  • Mitchell County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Bailey
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Bailey is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
    • Richlands
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Richlands is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
    • Huntdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Relief
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Tipton Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Buladean
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Herrell ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Herrell is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
    • Red Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Yancey County (NC)

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

Cemeteries Near Afton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Afton.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Afton had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Tusculum
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Tusculum is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tusculum
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,669 people
  • Henshaw ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Henshaw is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henshaw
    • Estimated population in 2014: 470 people
  • Upchurch
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Upchurch is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upchurch
  • Rheatown
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Statemount ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Statemount is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statemount
  • Horse Creek
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Horse Creek is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Creek
    • Estimated population in 2014: 284 people
  • Newmansville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Newmansville is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
  • Derby ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Derby is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
  • Limestone
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Camp Creek
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Brownsboro ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Brownsboro is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsboro
  • Broylesville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Broylesville is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broylesville
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Mill Brook
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Locust Springs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Locust Springs is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Springs
    • Maltsberger ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Maltsberger is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maltsberger

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

Newspapers Published in Afton ...

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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Afton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Afton, there are papers which were published within 6 miles [9.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Afton.

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 Afton:

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 Afton, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Afton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.