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 Bales Ford (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 Bales Ford. 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 Bales Ford ...
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.
While the name of this community is Bales Ford, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Bales Ford may originally have been Bale's Ford.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Bales Ford might be written as Bale Ford.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Bales Ford is located in Hancock 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 Hancock County: Claiborne, Grainger, Hawkins, Lee (VA) & Scott (VA).
Below are the counties that are near Bales Ford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bales Ford:
- Hancock County (The home county of Bales Ford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bales Ford, with the one closest to Bales Ford listed first.
- Alanthus Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Alanthus Hill is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alanthus Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,498 people
- Xenophon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Xenophon is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenophon
- Sneedville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Duck Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Duck Creek is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duck Creek
- Trent Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Trent Valley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trent Valley
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,157 people
- Yount Town
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Yount Town is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yount Town
- Kyles Ford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Willis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Willis is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willis
- Estimated population in 2014: 387 people
- Claiborne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bales Ford, with the one closest to Bales Ford listed first.
- Caney Valley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Caney Valley is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney Valley
- Evans Ferry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Evans Ferry is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans Ferry
- Population from the 2010 Census: 293 people
- Raven Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Raven Hill is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven Hill
- Springdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Springdale is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Tazewell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shawanee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Shawanee is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawanee
- New Tazewell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harrogate
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Cumberland Gap
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Head of Barren
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Head of Barren is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Head of Barren
- Lone Mountain
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lone Mountain is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Mountain
- Minton Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Minton Mill is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minton Mill
- Estimated population in 2014: 527 people
- Sandlick
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Sandlick is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandlick
- Grainger County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bales Ford, with the one closest to Bales Ford listed first.
- Bean Station
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Thorn Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Thorn Hill is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorn Hill
- Beans
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Beans is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,084 people
- Wyatt Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Wyatt Village is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt Village
- Bowen
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bowen is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowen
- Marshalls Ferry
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Marshalls Ferry is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshalls Ferry
- Rutledge
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Washburn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Washburn is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washburn
- Wa-Ni Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Wa-Ni Village is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wa-Ni Village
- Lulaville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lulaville is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lulaville
- Joppa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Joppa is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa
- Massengill Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Massengill Mill is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massengill Mill
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,600 people
- Oakland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Oakland is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,316 people
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bales Ford, with the one closest to Bales Ford listed first.
- Marvin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Marvin is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marvin
- Romeo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Romeo is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romeo
- Hamblen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bales Ford, with the one closest to Bales Ford listed first.
- Bright ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Bright is located in Hamblen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,942 people
- Whitesburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Casablanca
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Casablanca is located in Hamblen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casablanca
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,223 people
- East Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- East Village is located in Hamblen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- Morristown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Silver City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Silver City is located in Hamblen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Collons Ferry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Collons Ferry is located in Hamblen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collons Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 986 people
- Monte Vista Estates
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- 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
- The following are listed by their distance from Bales Ford, with the one closest to Bales Ford listed first.
- Mooresburg Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Mooresburg Springs is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooresburg Springs
- Population from the 2010 Census: 941 people
- Eidson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Eidson is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eidson
- Mooresburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Galbraith Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Galbraith Springs is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galbraith Springs
- Red Bridge Ferry
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Red Bridge Ferry is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bridge Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,135 people
- Rogersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Amis
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Amis is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amis
- Persia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Persia is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
- Bulls Gap
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Strahl
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Strahl is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strahl
- Surgoinsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Kepler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kepler is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kepler
- Greenland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Greenland is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenland
- Jefferson County
- Talbott
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Union County
- Haynes ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Haynes is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
- Bell County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bales Ford, with the one closest to Bales Ford listed first.
- Callaway
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Callaway is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callaway
- Calvin
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Calvin is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
- Miracle
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Miracle is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miracle
- Varilla
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Varilla is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varilla
- Kettle Island
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kettle Island is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettle Island
- Stoney Fork
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Stoney Fork is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Fork
- Jenson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jenson is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenson
- Middlesboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Straight Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Straight Creek is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straight Creek
- Wasioto
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wasioto is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasioto
- Arjay
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Arjay is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arjay
- Dorton Branch
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Dorton Branch is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorton Branch
- Pineville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Harlan County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bales Ford, with the one closest to Bales Ford listed first.
- Mary Alice
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Mary Alice is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mary Alice
- Twila
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Twila is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twila
- Pathfork
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pathfork is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pathfork
- Bobs Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Bobs Creek is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bobs Creek
- Cawood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Cawood is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cawood
- Cranks
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cranks is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranks
- South Wallins
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- South Wallins is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wallins
- Wallins Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Wallins Creek is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallins Creek
- Estimated population in 2016: 146 people
- Coldiron
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Harlan
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Loyall
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Loyall is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Ages
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ages is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ages
- Baxter
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Knox County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bales Ford, with the one closest to Bales Ford listed first.
- Flat Lick
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Flat Lick is located in Knox County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Lick
- Walker
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Walker is located in Knox County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Wheeler
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Wheeler is located in Knox County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Dewitt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dewitt is located in Knox County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewitt
- Scalf
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Scalf is located in Knox County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalf
- Trosper
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Trosper is located in Knox County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trosper
- Warren
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Warren is located in Knox County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
- Leslie County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bales Ford, with the one closest to Bales Ford listed first.
- Helton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Helton is located in Leslie County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Warbranch
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Warbranch is located in Leslie County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warbranch
- Chappell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Chappell is located in Leslie County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chappell
- Mozelle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Mozelle is located in Leslie County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mozelle
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bales Ford, see our County-by-County Page for Bales Ford.
Cemeteries Near Bales Ford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bales Ford.
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 Bales Ford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bales Ford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bales Ford, with the one closest to Bales Ford listed first.
- Wolfenbarger Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Breeding Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Parkey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Owen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Montgomery Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Edd Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Suber Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Harkins Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Overton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Brooks Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Overton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Overton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (783 more) ...
- Monday Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Lemarr Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Buchanan Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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>
While we didn't find Bales Ford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bales Ford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bales Ford, with the one closest to Bales Ford listed first.
- Alanthus Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Alanthus Hill is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alanthus Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,498 people
- Yellow Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Yellow Springs is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Springs
- Xenophon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Xenophon is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenophon
- Sneedville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Luther
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Luther is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luther
- Ritchie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ritchie is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritchie
- Creech
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Creech is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creech
- Lee Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lee Valley is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Valley
- Cubage
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cubage is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cubage
- Bacchus
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Bacchus is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bacchus
- Tazewell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Springdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Springdale is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Thorn Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Thorn Hill is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorn Hill
- Tate Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Tate Springs is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate Springs
- Bean Station
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bales Ford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bales Ford.
Newspapers Published in Bales Ford ...
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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bales Ford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bales Ford, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bales Ford.
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 helpful 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 Bales Ford:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Hancock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Claiborne County
- Grainger County
- Greene County
- Hamblen County
- Hawkins County
- Jefferson County
- Union County
- Bell County
- Harlan County
- Knox County
- Leslie County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Tennessee
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Bales Ford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bales Ford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |