RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Tennessee >> Claiborne County >> Big Barren >> 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 Big Barren (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 Big Barren. 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 doctors 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.

Big Barren is located in Claiborne 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 Claiborne County: Bell (KY), Whitley (KY), Campbell, Grainger, Hancock, Union & Lee (VA).

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

  • Claiborne County     (The home county of Big Barren)
  • Anderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Barren, with the one closest to Big Barren listed first.
    • Andersonville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Norris
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Bethel
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bethel is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
      • Estimated population in 2014: 719 people
    • Panther ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Panther is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
    • Rocky Top
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Fraterville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Fraterville is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fraterville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 70,612 people
    • Clinton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Campbell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Barren, with the one closest to Big Barren listed first.
    • Flat Hollow
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Stockville ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Stockville is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockville
    • Forkvale ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Forkvale is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkvale
    • Girlton ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Girlton is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girlton
    • Victory
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Boy ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Boy is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boy
    • Fincastle
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Fincastle is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fincastle
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,618 people
    • White Oak
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Demory
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Habersham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Hatmaker ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Hatmaker is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatmaker
    • LaFollette
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
  • Grainger County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Barren, with the one closest to Big Barren listed first.
    • Washburn
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Joppa
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lulaville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Lulaville is located in Grainger County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lulaville
    • Rutledge
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Lea Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Maples ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Maples is located in Grainger County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maples
    • Massengill Mill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Massengill Mill is located in Grainger County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massengill Mill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,600 people
    • Bowen
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Thorn Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Blaine
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Oakland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Oakland is located in Grainger County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
      • Estimated population in 2014: 7,316 people
    • Wa-Ni Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Wa-Ni Village is located in Grainger County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wa-Ni Village
  • Hamblen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Barren, with the one closest to Big Barren listed first.
    • Collons Ferry
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Collons Ferry is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collons Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2014: 986 people
    • Casablanca
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Casablanca is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casablanca
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,223 people
    • Morristown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bright ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Bright is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,942 people
    • East Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • East Village is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
    • Monte Vista Estates
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Monte Vista Estates is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monte Vista Estates
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,860 people
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Barren, with the one closest to Big Barren listed first.
    • Alanthus Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Alanthus Hill is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alanthus Hill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,498 people
    • Xenophon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Xenophon is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenophon
    • Yount Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Duck Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Sneedville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Trent Valley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Trent Valley is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trent Valley
      • Estimated population in 2014: 4,157 people
  • Hawkins County
  • Jefferson County
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Barren, with the one closest to Big Barren listed first.
    • Corryton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Zacharytown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Bayless ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bayless is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayless
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,396 people
    • Ridgeview Heights
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Ridgeview Heights is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeview Heights
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,979 people
    • Skaggston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Copper Ridge
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Copper Ridge is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copper Ridge
      • Estimated population in 2014: 333 people
    • Maloneyville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Mascot
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Mascot is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mascot
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 2,411 people
    • Highpoint ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Highpoint is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highpoint
    • John Sevier
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Lyonton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Lyonton is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyonton
    • Halls
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Halls is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls
  • Sevier County
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Barren, with the one closest to Big Barren listed first.
    • Haynes ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Haynes is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
    • Loo ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Loo is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loo
    • Braden
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Phebe ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Phebe is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phebe
    • Lost Creek ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Lost Creek is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
    • Maynardville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Long Hollow ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Rhodelia ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Rhodelia is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodelia
    • Luttrell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Warwicktown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Warwicktown is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwicktown
      • Estimated population in 2014: 658 people
    • Plainview
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Loyston ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Bell County (KY)
  • Harlan County (KY)
  • Knox County (KY)
  • Whitley County (KY)

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

Cemeteries Near Big Barren ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Barren.

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 Big Barren - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Barren, with the one closest to Big Barren listed first.

  • Cox Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Carr Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Cole Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Edwards Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Goin Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Beason Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Keck Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Butcher Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Skaggs Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Burch Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Ford Chapel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (1144 more) ...
    • Hopper Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Edwards Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Keck Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Big Barren had a population of 75 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Sandlick
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Goin
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Little Barren
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Little Barren is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Barren
  • Haynes ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Haynes is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
  • Minkton ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Minkton is located in Claiborne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minkton
  • Head of Barren
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Acuff
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Acuff is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acuff
  • Sharps Chapel
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Lone Mountain
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Navehill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Navehill is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navehill
  • Liberty Hill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Liberty Hill is located in Grainger County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
  • New Tazewell
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Duo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Duo is located in Claiborne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duo
    • New Prospect ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • New Prospect is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Prospect
    • Loo ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Loo is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loo

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

Newspapers Published in Big Barren ...

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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Barren.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Barren, 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 Big Barren.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Big Barren:

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