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 Springs (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 Springs. 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 Big Springs ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Bigsprings.
- A typical abbreviation for Big Springs: Big Spgs. (or less commonly used: Big Spngs. or Big Sprngs.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Big Springs. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Big Springs.
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 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.
Big Springs is located in Dickson 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 Dickson County: Cheatham, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery & Williamson.
Below are the counties that are near Big Springs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Big Springs:
- Dickson County (The home county of Big Springs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Springs, with the one closest to Big Springs listed first.
- Charlotte
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- White Oak Flat
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- White Oak Flat is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak Flat
- Stayton
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Stayton is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stayton
- Dunn Chapel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dunn Chapel is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn Chapel
- Vanleer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Woods Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Woods Valley is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Valley
- Pond
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pond is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond
- Bellsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bellsburg is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellsburg
- Dickson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Slayden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Slayden is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slayden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Burns
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- White Bluff
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cheatham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Springs, with the one closest to Big Springs listed first.
- Bell Town
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bell Town is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Town
- Cheap Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cheap Hill is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheap Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 173,778 people
- Neptune
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Neptune is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neptune
- Kingston Springs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ashland City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Ashland City is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,748 people
- Lillamay
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Lillamay is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lillamay
- Henrietta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Henrietta is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Estimated population in 2014: 921 people
- Lockertsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lockertsville is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockertsville
- Estimated population in 2014: 885 people
- Pegram
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pegram is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pegram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,056 people
- Marrowbone
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Marrowbone is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marrowbone
- Sycamore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sycamore is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Doziers ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Doziers is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doziers
- Estimated population in 2014: 543 people
- Davidson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Springs, with the one closest to Big Springs listed first.
- Linton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Linton is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linton
- Bellevue
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Watkins ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Watkins is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Tennessee Towne ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Tennessee Towne is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennessee Towne
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,347 people
- Morny
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Morny is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morny
- Greenville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Greenville is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
- Belle Meade
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Belle Meade is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Meade
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,788 people
- Joelton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Addie ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Addie is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
- Estimated population in 2014: 650 people
- Ridgepost ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ridgepost is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgepost
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,732 people
- Forest Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Forest Hills is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,721 people
- Green Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Green Hills is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hills
- Population from the 2010 Census: 6,618 people
- Hickman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Springs, with the one closest to Big Springs listed first.
- Bon Aqua Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bon Aqua Junction is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Aqua Junction
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,230 people
- Lyles
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Wrigley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Wrigley is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrigley
- Population from the 2010 Census: 281 people
- Salt Lick
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Salt Lick is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salt Lick
- Estimated population in 2014: 508 people
- Graham
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Graham is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Nunnelly
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Nunnelly is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunnelly
- Whitehouse
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Whitehouse is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehouse
- Primm Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Primm Springs is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primm Springs
- Graytown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Graytown is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graytown
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,528 people
- Littlelot
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Littlelot is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlelot
- Tottys Bend
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Tottys Bend is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tottys Bend
- Centerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Houston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Springs, with the one closest to Big Springs listed first.
- Omega ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Omega is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- Erin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Brownsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Brownsville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Estimated population in 2014: 9,974 people
- Tennessee Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Magnolia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Magnolia is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Humphreys County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Springs, with the one closest to Big Springs listed first.
- McEwen
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bethpage
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bethpage is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethpage
- Population from the 2010 Census: 288 people
- Halls Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Halls Creek is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Creek
- Pigeon Roost
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Pigeon Roost is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon Roost
- Estimated population in 2014: 6,132 people
- Waverly
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Trinity
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Trinity is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
- Estimated population in 2014: 625 people
- Hurricane Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Maury County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Springs, with the one closest to Big Springs listed first.
- Fly
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Fly is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fly
- New Flys Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- New Flys Village is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Flys Village
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Springs, with the one closest to Big Springs listed first.
- McAllisters Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Southside
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Louise
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Louise is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louise
- Liverworth
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Liverworth is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverworth
- Oakridge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Oakridge is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakridge
- Estimated population in 2014: 29,303 people
- Fredonia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Fredonia is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Oak Plains
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Plains is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Plains
- Sango
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Sango is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sango
- Woodford ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Woodford is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Dotsonville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dotsonville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotsonville
- Clarksville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Swan Lake Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Swan Lake Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Lake Village
- Robertson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Springs, with the one closest to Big Springs listed first.
- Stroudville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Stroudville is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stroudville
- Coopertown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Coopertown is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopertown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,612 people
- Sandy Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy Springs is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Springs
- Holmansville ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Holmansville is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmansville
- Flewellyn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Flewellyn is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flewellyn
- Crunk
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Crunk is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crunk
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,406 people
- Adams
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Stewart County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Springs, with the one closest to Big Springs listed first.
- Cumberland City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Throckmorton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Throckmorton is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Throckmorton
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,692 people
- Indian Mound
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Springs, with the one closest to Big Springs listed first.
- Fairview
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Loriland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Loriland is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loriland
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,735 people
- Fernvale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fernvale is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernvale
- Old Town ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Old Town is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Forest Home
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Forest Home is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Home
- Leipers Fork
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wildwood Estates
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Wildwood Estates is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood Estates
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,098 people
- Berrys Chapel Heights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Berrys Chapel Heights is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berrys Chapel Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 551 people
- Lynnwood Downs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lynnwood Downs is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnwood Downs
- Estimated population in 2014: 282 people
- Southall
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Southall is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southall
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Big Springs, see our County-by-County Page for Big Springs.
Cemeteries Near Big Springs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Springs.
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 Springs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Big Springs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Springs, with the one closest to Big Springs listed first.
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Big Springs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Redden Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Vanleer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Nesbitt Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Binkley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hickerson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Charlotte Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Roberts Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Leech Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Corlew Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Hebron Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Continue List (837 more) ...
- Greenwood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lane Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Southerland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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 Big Springs in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Big Springs.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Springs, with the one closest to Big Springs listed first.
- Charlotte
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Dull
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Dull is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dull
- Cumberland Furnace
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Sylvia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sylvia is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvia
- Vanleer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Pond
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pond is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond
- Woods Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Woods Valley is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Valley
- Dickson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Colesburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Colesburg is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colesburg
- Petway
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Petway is located in Cheatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petway
- Bellsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bellsburg is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellsburg
- Burns
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- White Bluff
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- McAllisters Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Pomona
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Pomona is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pomona
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Big Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Big Springs.
Newspapers Published in Big Springs ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Springs.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Springs, 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 Big Springs.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Big Springs:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Dickson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cheatham County
- Davidson County
- Hickman County
- Houston County
- Humphreys County
- Maury County
- Montgomery County
- Robertson County
- Stewart County
- Williamson 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 Big Springs, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Big Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |