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 Bethlehem (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 Bethlehem. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Bethlehem is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Lauderdale (AL), Decatur, Hardin, Lawrence, Lewis & Perry.
Below are the counties that are near Bethlehem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bethlehem:
- Wayne County (The home county of Bethlehem)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Corning ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Corning is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,210 people
- Collinwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Collinwood is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collinwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 932 people
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
- Waynesboro
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Inn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Sorby ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sorby is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sorby
- Lutts
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ashland Ford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ashland Ford is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,674 people
- Slickrock Ford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 179 people
- Clifton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Giles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Weakley
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Weakley is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weakley
- Bodenham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bodenham is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodenham
- Minor Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Minor Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 533 people
- Liberty Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
- Anthony Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Anthony Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anthony Hill
- Campbellsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Campbellsville is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbellsville
- Green Field
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Green Field is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Field
- Stella
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Stella is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
- Wales
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Wales is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wales
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,031 people
- Gordon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Gordon is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,192 people
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Smiths Fork ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Smiths Fork is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Fork
- Lowryville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Lowryville is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowryville
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Westpoint
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Iron City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Loretto
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Joseph
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Busby
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Leoma
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Liberty Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty Grove is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Grove
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,825 people
- Rascal Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rascal Town is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rascal Town
- Lawrenceburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Flatwoods
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Flatwoods is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwoods
- Park Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Park Grove is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Grove
- Ethridge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Henryville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Henryville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henryville
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Voorhies
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Voorhies is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,476 people
- Hohenwald
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Perry County
- Flatwoods
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Colbert County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Wilson Dam
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Wilson Dam is located in Colbert County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson Dam
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Davidsons Cross Roads is located in Colbert County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davidsons Cross Roads
- Ford City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ford City is located in Colbert County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford City
- South Florence
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Nitrate City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Sheffield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Muscle Shoals
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Tuscumbia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Crows Camp ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Crows Camp is located in Colbert County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crows Camp
- Doubleheads Village ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Doubleheads Village is located in Colbert County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doubleheads Village
- Lauderdale County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Pruitton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Pruitton is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruitton
- Green Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Green Hill is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Zip City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Zip City is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zip City
- Belew ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Belew is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belew
- Slabtown ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Slabtown is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slabtown
- Arnot
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Arnot is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnot
- Arkdell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Arkdell is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkdell
- Atlas ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Atlas is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Lexington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bailey Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Jacksonburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Jacksonburg is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonburg
- Comer
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Comer is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
- Cloverdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Cloverdale is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Lawrence County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Wheeler Dam Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wheeler Dam Village is located in Lawrence County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Dam Village
- Red Bank
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Red Bank is located in Lawrence County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Limestone County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Lester
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lester is located in Limestone County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Clifton ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Clifton is located in Limestone County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bethlehem, see our County-by-County Page for Bethlehem.
Cemeteries Near Bethlehem ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bethlehem.
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 Bethlehem - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bethlehem covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Boshear Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pinkney Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Blair Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Point Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Old West Point Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wisdom Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dixon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dial Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Chinubee Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sims Ridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (815 more) ...
- Butler Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hollis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Belew Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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 Bethlehem in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bethlehem.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Pinkney
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Pinkney is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinkney
- Westpoint
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Moon ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Moon is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moon
- Wayland Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Wayland Springs is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland Springs
- Knob Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Knob Creek is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob Creek
- Light ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Light is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Light
- Iron City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Saint Joseph
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Loretto
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Busby
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Pleasant Valley ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Pruitton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Pruitton is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruitton
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Pleasant Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Point is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Point
- Victory ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Victory is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victory
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bethlehem. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bethlehem.
Newspapers Published in Bethlehem ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bethlehem.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bethlehem, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bethlehem.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Bethlehem:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Wayne County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Giles County
- Hardin County
- Lawrence County
- Lewis County
- Perry County
- Colbert County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone 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 Bethlehem, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Bethlehem) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |