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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 Bluff City (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 Bluff City. 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 Bluff City ...

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.

Prior to its current name of Bluff City, it was known as Zollicoffer.

Bluff City was originally named Choates Ford

Another variation: Bluffcity.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Bluff City. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Bluff City.

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.

A Few Details for Bluff City ...

While it's still very early in our research, we found that:

  • It was incorporated on July 1, 1887.

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 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.

Bluff City is located in Sullivan 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 Sullivan County: Carter, Hawkins, Johnson, Washington, Bristol City (VA), Scott (VA) & Washington (VA).

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

  • Sullivan County     (The home county of Bluff City)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bluff City, with the one closest to Bluff City listed first.
    • Galloway Mill
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Galloway Mill is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galloway Mill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 665 people
    • Childress
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Lella ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Lella is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lella
    • Cedar Grove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Piney Flats
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Akard Addition
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Blountville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Thom ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Thom is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thom
    • Cross
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Walnut Hill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Walnut Hill is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill
    • Sac ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Sac is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sac
    • Collingwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Beechnut City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Beechnut City is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechnut City
  • Carter County
  • Greene County
  • Hawkins County
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bluff City, with the one closest to Bluff City listed first.
    • Butler
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • High Health ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • High Health is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Health
    • Winchester
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Winchester is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
      • Estimated population in 2014: 8,547 people
    • Norris
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Norris is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,652 people
    • Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
    • Fuller
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Mountain City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Shingletown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Dowell ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Dowell is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowell
      • Estimated population in 2014: 364 people
    • Trade
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Unicoi County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bluff City, with the one closest to Bluff City listed first.
    • Whispering Pines
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Unicoi
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Limestone Cove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Erwin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Banner Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Banner Hill is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banner Hill
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,497 people
    • Bumpus Cove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bumpus Cove is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpus Cove
      • Estimated population in 2014: 729 people
    • Indian Creek ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Indian Creek is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
    • Ernestville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Ernestville is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ernestville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,311 people
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bluff City, with the one closest to Bluff City listed first.
    • Austin Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Austin Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Village
    • Flourville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Oak Grove
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Carnegie
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Carnegie is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnegie
    • North Johnson City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • North Johnson City is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Johnson City
    • Oakland Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Oakland Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Village
    • Spurgeon
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • East Ridge
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • East Ridge is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Ridge
      • Estimated population in 2014: 21,317 people
    • Camelot Two
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Camelot Two is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camelot Two
      • Estimated population in 2014: 3,582 people
    • Johnson City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • South Gate Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • South Gate Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gate Village
    • Gray
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Midway
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Midway is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
  • Avery County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bluff City, with the one closest to Bluff City listed first.
    • Mount Gilead
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Mount Gilead is located in Avery County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gilead
    • Whaley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Elk Park
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Beech Mountain
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Banner Elk
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Minneapolis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Minneapolis is located in Avery County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minneapolis
  • Mitchell County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bluff City, with the one closest to Bluff City listed first.
    • Buladean
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Richlands
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Richlands is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
    • Herrell ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Herrell is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
    • Bailey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Bailey is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
    • Little Rock Creek ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Little Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Creek
    • Huntdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Relief
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Tipton Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Watauga County (NC)

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

Cemeteries Near Bluff City ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bluff City.

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 Bluff City - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Berry Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Morning View Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Mauk Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Henley Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Brown Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Mountain View Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Crockett Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Boy Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Hines Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • St. John Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Webb Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (903 more) ...
    • Lindamood Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Droke Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Cross Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bluff City had a population of 662 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Bluff City had a population of 1,672 people.

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

  • Sumpter ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Sumpter is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumpter
  • Childress
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Lella ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Lella is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lella
  • Piney Flats
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Blountville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Thom ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Thom is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thom
  • Keenburg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Keenburg is located in Carter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keenburg
  • Sac ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Sac is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sac
  • Austin Springs
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Austin Springs is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Springs
  • Watauga
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Lawson ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Lawson is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawson
  • Hilton ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Hilton is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Beidlemans ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Beidlemans is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beidlemans
    • Mill Point
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Edgeworth ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Edgeworth is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgeworth

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Bluff City ...

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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bluff City.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Bluff City. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Bluff City and those printed in the larger area surrounding Bluff City.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4> of Bluff City.

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 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 Bluff City:

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>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<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 Bluff City, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bluff City) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.