Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Clay. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Clay to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Clay, please Contact Us.
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 Clay (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 Clay. 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 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Clay is historic, it would have been located within present day Shelby 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 Shelby County: Crittenden (AR), DeSoto (MS), Marshall (MS), Fayette & Tipton.
Below are the counties that are near Clay. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Clay:
- Shelby County (The home county of Clay)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Cordova
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Germantown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bartlett
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Forest Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Forest Hill is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- The Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- The Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Spring Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Lake is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- Estimated population in 2014: 34,269 people
- Parkway Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Parkway Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkway Village
- Bailey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bailey is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
- Binghampton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Binghampton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Binghampton
- Lakeland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Capleville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Capleville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capleville
- Oakville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Oakville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Arlington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Canadaville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Canadaville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadaville
- Elba
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Elba is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Piperton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Piperton is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piperton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,128 people
- Hickory Withe
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Withe is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Withe
- New Bethel
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- New Bethel is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Bethel
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,324 people
- Gallaway
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rossville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Oakland is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,669 people
- Macon
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Macon is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Braden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Feathers Chapel
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Feathers Chapel is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Feathers Chapel
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,102 people
- Moscow
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Williston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Williston is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Hancock County
- Keeling
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Keeling is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeling
- Haywood County
- Fredonia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fredonia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Tipton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Atoka
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Wilkinsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Wilkinsville is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkinsville
- Idaville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Idaville is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idaville
- Munford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Gainesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gainesville is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
- Estimated population in 2014: 958 people
- Drummonds
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Brighton
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Clopton
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Clopton is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clopton
- Estimated population in 2014: 9,889 people
- Mason
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Carmel
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mount Carmel is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carmel
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,453 people
- Randolph
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Randolph is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Corona
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Corona is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corona
- Gailor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gailor is located in Tipton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gailor
- Estimated population in 2014: 468 people
- Crittenden County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Mound City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Mound City is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
- Hulbert
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hulbert is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hulbert
- Marion
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Marion is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,290 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Marion <2>
- West Memphis
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Sunset
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Sunset is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset
- Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
- Amanca
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Amanca is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amanca
- James Mill
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- James Mill is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James Mill
- Jericho
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Jericho is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
- Clarkedale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Clarkedale is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkedale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
- Edmondson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Edmondson is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmondson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 378 people
- Pinckney
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pinckney is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinckney
- Crawfordsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Anthonyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Anthonyville is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anthonyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Mississippi County (AR)
- Frenchmans Bayou
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Frenchmans Bayou is located in Mississippi County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchmans Bayou
- DeSoto County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Olive Branch
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Southaven
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- De Soto Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- De Soto Village is located in DeSoto County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto Village
- Horn Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Aldens
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Aldens is located in DeSoto County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldens
- Lynchburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lynchburg is located in DeSoto County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynchburg
- Southhaven
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Southhaven is located in DeSoto County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southhaven
- Bright
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Bright is located in DeSoto County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright
- Nesbit
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ingrams Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Ingrams Mill is located in DeSoto County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingrams Mill
- Walls
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Walls is located in DeSoto County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,441 people
- Former name for Walls:
- Alpika
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Walls <2>
- Hernando
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Glover
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Glover is located in DeSoto County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glover
- Marshall County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Barton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Barton is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton
- Cayce
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cayce is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayce
- Byhalia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Mount Pleasant
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Taska
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Taska is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taska
- Victoria
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Victoria is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
- Slayden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Slayden is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slayden
- Red Banks
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Atway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Atway is located in Marshall County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atway
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Clay, see our County-by-County Page for Clay.
Cemeteries Near Clay ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clay.
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 Clay - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Clay covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Hill Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Mt. Vernon Gardens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Eastlawn Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Forest Hill Cemetery East
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- New Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Memorial Park Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memorial Park Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Memorial Park Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Memphis.
- The Memorial Park Cemetery has also been known as:
- Memphis Memorial Park
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #15595 <3>
- Germantown Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Toll Gate Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Morning Sun Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Morning Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Galilee Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Memory Hill Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (459 more) ...
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pisgah Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Raleigh Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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.
While we didn't find Clay in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Clay.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Germantown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lenow
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lenow is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenow
- Bartlett
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Berclair
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Berclair is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berclair
- Forest Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Forest Hill is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Raleigh
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Raleigh is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh
- Buntyn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Buntyn is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buntyn
- Bailey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bailey is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
- Brunswick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bellevue
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bellevue is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Oakville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Oakville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Capleville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Capleville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capleville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Eads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pearley ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Pearley is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearley
- Collierville
(11 miles [17.7 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 Clay. See our List of 1890's Communities around Clay.
Newspapers Published in Clay ...
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 218 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clay.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clay, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Clay.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Clay:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fayette County
- Hancock County
- Haywood County
- Tipton County
- Crittenden County
- Mississippi County
- DeSoto County
- Marshall County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Tennessee
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Clay, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Clay) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |