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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 Childress (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 Childress. 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.

Childress 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 Childress. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Childress:

  • Sullivan County     (The home county of Childress)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Childress, with the one closest to Childress listed first.
    • Piney Flats
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Bluff City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Galloway Mill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Galloway Mill is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galloway Mill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 665 people
    • Cedar Grove
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lella ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lella is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lella
    • Thom ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Thom is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thom
    • Blountville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Sac ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Sac is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sac
    • Colby ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Colby is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
    • Akard Addition
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Cross
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Walnut Hill
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Walnut Hill is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill
  • Carter County
  • Greene County
  • Hawkins County
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Childress, with the one closest to Childress listed first.
    • Butler
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • High Health ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • High Health is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Health
    • Winchester
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Winchester is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
      • Estimated population in 2014: 8,547 people
    • Norris
      (21 miles [33.8 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
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
    • Mountain City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Fuller
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Shingletown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Trade
      (29 miles [46.7 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
  • Unicoi County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Childress, with the one closest to Childress listed first.
    • Whispering Pines
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Limestone Cove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Unicoi
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Erwin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Banner Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • 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
      (22 miles [35.4 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
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Indian Creek is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
    • Ernestville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Ernestville is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ernestville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,311 people
    • Clear Branch
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Loganton ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Loganton is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganton
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Childress, with the one closest to Childress listed first.
    • Austin Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Austin Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Village
    • Oakland Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Oakland Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Village
    • Flourville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Carnegie
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Carnegie is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnegie
    • East Ridge
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • East Ridge is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Ridge
      • Estimated population in 2014: 21,317 people
    • Johnson City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • North Johnson City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • North Johnson City is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Johnson City
    • Oak Grove
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Oak Grove is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • South Gate Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • South Gate Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gate Village
    • Camelot Two
      (9 miles [14.5 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
    • Spurgeon
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Gray
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Avery County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Childress, with the one closest to Childress listed first.
    • Mount Gilead
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Mount Gilead is located in Avery County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gilead
    • Whaley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Elk Park
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Beech Mountain
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Minneapolis
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Minneapolis is located in Avery County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minneapolis
    • Banner Elk
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Vale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Vale is located in Avery County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vale
    • Chestnut Dale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Newland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Sugar Mountain
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Sugar Mountain is located in Avery County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Mountain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
  • Mitchell County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Childress, with the one closest to Childress listed first.
    • Buladean
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Richlands
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Richlands is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
    • Herrell ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Herrell is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
    • Bailey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Bailey is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
    • Little Rock Creek ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Little Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Creek
    • Huntdale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Red Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Relief
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Tipton Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Bakersville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Watauga County (NC)
  • Yancey County (NC)

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

Cemeteries Near Childress ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Childress.

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

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

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

  • McLaney Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Spears Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Malone Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Webb Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Kidwell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Curtis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Bare Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Dempsey Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Peregoy Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Arrants Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Mountain View Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Calbaugh Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Continue List   (951 more) ...
    • Adkinson Cemetery
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Carr Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Rumbley Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Childress had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Piney Flats
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Bluff City
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Keenburg
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Keenburg is located in Carter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keenburg
  • Watauga
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Austin Springs
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Austin Springs is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Springs
  • Sumpter ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Sumpter is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumpter
  • Lella ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Lella is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lella
  • Elizabethton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Thom ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Thom is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thom
  • Flourville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Hilton ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Hilton is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton
  • Johnson City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Carnegie
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Carnegie is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnegie
    • Milligan
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Milligan is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milligan
    • Siam
      (8 miles [12.9 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 Childress. See our List of 1890's Communities around Childress.

Newspapers Published in Childress ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Childress.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Childress, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Childress.

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 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 Childress:

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