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 Belle Forest (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 Belle Forest. 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 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.
Belle Forest is located in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County: Christian (KY), Todd (KY), Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Robertson & Stewart.
Below are the counties that are near Belle Forest. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Belle Forest:
- Montgomery County (The home county of Belle Forest)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Forest, with the one closest to Belle Forest listed first.
- Louise Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Louise Heights is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louise Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,715 people
- Stryker Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Stryker Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stryker Village
- Woodlawn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Clarksville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Dotsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dotsonville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotsonville
- Saint Bethlehem
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Wingate West
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Wingate West is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingate West
- Estimated population in 2014: 954 people
- Swan Lake Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Swan Lake Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Lake Village
- Oakwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Oakwood is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Oakridge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Oakridge is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakridge
- Estimated population in 2014: 29,303 people
- Sango
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Sango is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sango
- Liverworth
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Liverworth is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverworth
- Cheatham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Forest, with the one closest to Belle Forest listed first.
- Henrietta
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Henrietta is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Estimated population in 2014: 921 people
- Neptune
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Neptune is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neptune
- Cheap Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cheap Hill is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheap Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 173,778 people
- Lockertsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Lockertsville is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockertsville
- Estimated population in 2014: 885 people
- Pleasant View
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sycamore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sycamore is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Ashland City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ashland City is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,748 people
- Dickson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Forest, with the one closest to Belle Forest listed first.
- Woods Valley
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Woods Valley is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Valley
- Dunn Chapel
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Dunn Chapel is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn Chapel
- Slayden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Slayden is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slayden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Stayton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Stayton is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stayton
- Vanleer
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Bellsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bellsburg is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellsburg
- White Oak Flat
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- White Oak Flat is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak Flat
- Charlotte
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Houston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Forest, with the one closest to Belle Forest listed first.
- Brownsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brownsville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Estimated population in 2014: 9,974 people
- Erin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Omega ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Omega is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- Tennessee Ridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Robertson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Forest, with the one closest to Belle Forest listed first.
- Stroudville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Stroudville is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stroudville
- Adams
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Holmansville ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Holmansville is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmansville
- Cedar Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Sandy Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Sandy Springs is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Springs
- Flewellyn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Flewellyn is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flewellyn
- Coopertown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Coopertown is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopertown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,612 people
- Barren Plain
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Barren Plain is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barren Plain
- Stewart County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Forest, with the one closest to Belle Forest listed first.
- Throckmorton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Throckmorton is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Throckmorton
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,692 people
- Indian Mound
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Legate
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Legate is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legate
- Parker Town ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Parker Town is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Town
- Cumberland City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bumpus Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Dover
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Dover is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,578 people
- Former name for Dover:
- Monroe
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dover <1>
- Snider
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Snider is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snider
- Christian County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Forest, with the one closest to Belle Forest listed first.
- Oak Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Garrettsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Garrettsburg is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrettsburg
- Howel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Howel is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howel
- Bennettstown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bennettstown is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennettstown
- LaFayette
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Herndon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Herndon is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
- Pembroke
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Church Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Church Hill is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Newstead
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Newstead is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newstead
- Fairview
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hopkinsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Gracey
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Gracey is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gracey
- Logan County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Forest, with the one closest to Belle Forest listed first.
- Keysburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Keysburg is located in Logan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keysburg
- Olmstead
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Olmstead is located in Logan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmstead
- Ferguson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ferguson is located in Logan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Gordonsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gordonsville is located in Logan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonsville
- Justice
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Justice is located in Logan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Justice
- Todd County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Forest, with the one closest to Belle Forest listed first.
- Trenton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Guthrie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Anderson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Anderson is located in Todd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Hadensville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Hadensville is located in Todd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadensville
- Allensville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Allensville is located in Todd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allensville
- Population from the 2010 Census: 157 people
- Elkton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Allegre
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Allegre is located in Todd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allegre
- Sharon Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sharon Grove is located in Todd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon Grove
- Trigg County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Forest, with the one closest to Belle Forest listed first.
- Caledonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Caledonia is located in Trigg County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Cadiz
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cerulean
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Belle Forest, see our County-by-County Page for Belle Forest.
Cemeteries Near Belle Forest ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Belle Forest.
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 Belle Forest - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Belle Forest covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Belle Forest, with the one closest to Belle Forest listed first.
- Riverview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Good Hope Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Haynes Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Keesee Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Norris Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Garrott Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- McKnight Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Jackson Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Lyle Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Woodward Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (665 more) ...
- Blair Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wall Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Yarbrough Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Belle Forest in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Belle Forest.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Belle Forest, with the one closest to Belle Forest listed first.
- Ringgold
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Ringgold is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringgold
- New Providence
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- New Providence is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
- Peachers Mill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Peachers Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peachers Mill
- Birchwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Birchwood is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birchwood
- Woodlawn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Clarksville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Kennedy
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Kennedy is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennedy
- Oak Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Dotsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dotsonville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotsonville
- Jordan Springs ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jordan Springs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan Springs
- Saint Bethlehem
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Oakwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Oakwood is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Hematite
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hematite is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hematite
- Garrettsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Garrettsburg is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrettsburg
- Bellamy ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bellamy is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Belle Forest. See our List of 1890's Communities around Belle Forest.
Newspapers Published in Belle Forest ...
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 62 newspapers that have been published in the area around Belle Forest.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Belle Forest, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Belle Forest.
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 Belle Forest:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Montgomery County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cheatham County
- Dickson County
- Houston County
- Robertson County
- Stewart County
- Christian County
- Logan County
- Todd County
- Trigg County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Tennessee
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> | 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 Belle Forest, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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- Belle Forest) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |