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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 Brayton (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 Brayton. 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 doctors and 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.

Brayton is located in Bledsoe 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 Bledsoe County: Cumberland, Hamilton, Rhea, Sequatchie & Van Buren.

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

  • Bledsoe County     (The home county of Brayton)
  • Bradley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brayton, with the one closest to Brayton listed first.
    • Etola
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bent Tree Acres
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Bent Tree Acres is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Tree Acres
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,309 people
    • Hopewell Estates
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Hopewell Estates is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell Estates
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,874 people
    • Hopewell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Hopewell is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
    • Countryside Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Countryside Village is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside Village
    • Bellefounte
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Charleston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • McDonald
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Mineral Park
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Cleveland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • East Cleveland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • East Cleveland is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cleveland
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,608 people
    • South Cleveland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • South Cleveland is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Cleveland
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 6,912 people
  • Cumberland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brayton, with the one closest to Brayton listed first.
    • Newton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Newton is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,968 people
      • Newton has also been known as:
      • Peay
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Newton
      • From Brayton to Newton
    • Burke
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jewett
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Gilead ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Mount Gilead is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gilead
    • Lake Tansi Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Lantana
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Erasmus
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Todd Town
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Todd Town is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todd Town
  • Grundy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brayton, with the one closest to Brayton listed first.
    • Palmer
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Gruetli - Laager
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Beersheba Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Beersheba Springs is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beersheba Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 461 people
    • Gruetli
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Gruetli is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gruetli
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,775 people
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brayton, with the one closest to Brayton listed first.
    • Flat Top
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Sale Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Lakewood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Lakewood is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
      • Estimated population in 2011: 2,336 people
    • Soddy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Birchwood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Mowbray
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Soddy Lake Heights
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Soddy Lake Heights is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soddy Lake Heights
      • Estimated population in 2014: 13,190 people
    • Soddy - Daisy
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Daisy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Daisy is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisy
    • Caramel Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Caramel Village is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caramel Village
    • Crabtree Hills
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Crabtree Hills is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabtree Hills
      • Estimated population in 2014: 763 people
    • Falling Water
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Falling Water is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Water
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,232 people
  • Marion County
  • McMinn County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brayton, with the one closest to Brayton listed first.
    • Lamontville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Calhoun
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Riceville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Meigs County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brayton, with the one closest to Brayton listed first.
    • Cayuga Town ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Cayuga Town is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga Town
    • East View
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • East View is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East View
      • Estimated population in 2014: 705 people
    • Beta
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Calico
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Calico is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calico
      • Estimated population in 2014: 495 people
    • Goodfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Decatur
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Cute ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Cute is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cute
    • Akeman Crossroad
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Sewee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Rhea County
  • Sequatchie County
  • Van Buren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brayton, with the one closest to Brayton listed first.
    • Chalybeate
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Chalybeate is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalybeate
    • Sopha ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Sopha is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sopha
      • Estimated population in 2014: 3,104 people
    • Spencer
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Sweetgum
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Cummingsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Laurelburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Meade ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Meade is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meade
    • Bone Cave
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Warren County
    • Hillis ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Hillis is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillis

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

Cemeteries Near Brayton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brayton.

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 Brayton - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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 in 1895, Brayton had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Ogden
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Coulterville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Coulterville is located in Hamilton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coulterville
  • Graysville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Morgan Springs
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Morgan Springs is located in Rhea County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
  • Summer City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Summer City is located in Bledsoe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer City
  • Pailo
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Sale Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Pikeville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Mount Airy
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Mount Airy is located in Sequatchie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Airy
  • Dayton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Gladecreek ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Gladecreek is located in Bledsoe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladecreek
  • Schoolfield ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Schoolfield is located in Bledsoe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schoolfield
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Brayton ...

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 15 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brayton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brayton, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brayton.

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 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 Brayton:

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 Brayton, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Brayton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.