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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 Burke (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 Burke. 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.

Burke is located in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County: Bledsoe, Fentress, Morgan, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Van Buren & White.

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

  • Cumberland County     (The home county of Burke)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burke, with the one closest to Burke listed first.
    • Jewett
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Lake Tansi Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Lantana
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Gilead ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Mount Gilead is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gilead
    • Crab Orchard
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Newton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • 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 Burke to Newton
    • Crossville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Greenbriar Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Greenbriar Village is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenbriar Village
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,103 people
    • Erasmus
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Howard Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Todd Town
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Todd Town is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todd Town
    • Center Ford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Center Ford is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Ford
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,485 people
  • Bledsoe County
  • Fentress County
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burke, with the one closest to Burke listed first.
    • Lakewood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Lakewood is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
      • Estimated population in 2011: 2,336 people
    • Sale Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Birchwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Flat Top
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Loudon County
  • McMinn County
  • Meigs County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burke, with the one closest to Burke listed first.
    • Akeman Crossroad
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Calico
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Calico is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calico
      • Estimated population in 2014: 495 people
    • Cute ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Cute is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cute
    • Decatur
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Sewee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Surprise
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Goodfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Beta
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Cayuga Town ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Cayuga Town is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga Town
    • East View
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • East View is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East View
      • Estimated population in 2014: 705 people
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burke, with the one closest to Burke listed first.
    • Catoosa ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Harriman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bucklick
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Deermont
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Nemo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Oakdale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Oakdale is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
  • Overton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burke, with the one closest to Burke listed first.
    • Obey City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Obey City is located in Overton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obey City
    • Lovejoy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Putnam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burke, with the one closest to Burke listed first.
    • Burnett
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Burnett is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnett
      • Estimated population in 2014: 418 people
    • Monterey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Rhea County
  • Roane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burke, with the one closest to Burke listed first.
    • Glen Alice
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Pioneer Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Pioneer Village is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Village
    • Lakemont Heights
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Lakemont Heights is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakemont Heights
      • Estimated population in 2014: 12,564 people
    • Rockwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Postoak
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Cardiff
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • College Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • College Grove is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Grove
      • Estimated population in 2014: 10,729 people
    • Morrisgap ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Morrisgap is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisgap
    • Emory Gap
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Midtown Heights
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Midtown Heights is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midtown Heights
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,360 people
    • Midtown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Midtown is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midtown
    • Iron Divide ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Iron Divide is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Divide
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 328 people
  • Van Buren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burke, with the one closest to Burke listed first.
    • Sweetgum
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Cummingsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Meade ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Meade is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meade
    • Spencer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Sopha ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Sopha is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sopha
      • Estimated population in 2014: 3,104 people
  • White County

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

Cemeteries Near Burke ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Burke.

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

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

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

  • Ormes Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Hall Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Hinch Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Kerley Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Parham Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Tollett Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Sherrill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Selby Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Selby Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Big Lick Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Stephens Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (717 more) ...
    • Houston Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Hillcrest Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Hinch Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)

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, Burke had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Litton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Litton is located in Bledsoe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litton
  • Big Lick
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Big Lick is located in Cumberland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Lick
  • Music ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Music is located in Cumberland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Music
  • Jewett
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Wyatt ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Wyatt is located in Cumberland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
  • Grapevine ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Grapevine is located in Bledsoe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grapevine
  • Ninemile
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Tanbark ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Tanbark is located in Bledsoe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanbark
  • Balta
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Balta is located in Rhea County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balta
  • Grassy Cove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Grassy Cove is located in Cumberland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy Cove
  • Lantana
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Winesap
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Seals ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Seals is located in Bledsoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seals
    • Pearson ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Pearson is located in Bledsoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
    • Spring City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Burke ...

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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Burke.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Burke, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Burke.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Burke:

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 Burke, 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- Burke) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.