Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Etna. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Etna to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Etna, 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 Etna (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 Etna. 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 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 Etna is historic, it would have been located within present day Decatur 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 Decatur County: Benton, Carroll, Hardin, Henderson, Perry & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Etna. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Etna:
- Decatur County (The home county of Etna)
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Jeannette
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jeannette is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeannette
- Oakview ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oakview is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakview
- Sugar Tree
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Tree is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Tree
- Sulphur Springs ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Parsons
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Decaturville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Mount Lebanon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Mount Lebanon is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lebanon
- Estimated population in 2014: 29,387 people
- Pleasant Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 566 people
- Scotts Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dunbar
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Dunbar is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Chaseville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Chaseville is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaseville
- Coxburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Coxburg is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coxburg
- Wildlife Cove Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Crossroads
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Crossroads is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,728 people
- Camden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Sandy Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Sandy Point is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Point
- Brevards Ferry
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Brevards Ferry is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevards Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 40,982 people
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Buena Vista
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Clarksburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Clarksburg is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
- Concord
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Concord is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Anark
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Anark is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anark
- Bruceton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hollow Rock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Huntingdon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Cedar Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Johnson Ford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Johnson Ford is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 65,813 people
- Saltillo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Saltillo is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saltillo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 521 people
- Swift
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Swift is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,874 people
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Poplar Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Poplar Springs is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Springs
- Darden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Darden is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darden
- Population from the 2010 Census: 399 people
- Chesterfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Chesterfield is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
- Population from the 2010 Census: 469 people
- Farmville ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Farmville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmville
- Parkers Crossroads
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Lexington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cross
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Union Cross is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cross
- Estimated population in 2014: 10,666 people
- Cedar Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Grove is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Reagan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sardis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Atkins ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Atkins is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
- Estimated population in 2014: 13,664 people
- Huron
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Huron is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
- Middle Fork
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Middle Fork is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Fork
- Hickman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Only
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pleasantville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pleasantville is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
- Whitfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Whitfield is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- Hornertown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hornertown is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornertown
- Estimated population in 2014: 412 people
- Whitehouse
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Whitehouse is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehouse
- Humphreys County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Hustburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hustburg is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hustburg
- Bakerville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bakerville is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakerville
- Buffalo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Buffalo is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- New Johnsonville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Plant
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Plant is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plant
- Grandmother Ford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Grandmother Ford is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandmother Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 307 people
- Hurricane Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Waverly
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pigeon Roost
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pigeon Roost is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon Roost
- Estimated population in 2014: 6,132 people
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Mousetail ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mousetail is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mousetail
- Beardstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Beardstown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beardstown
- Lobelville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Linden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Flatwoods
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Clifton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Slickrock Ford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 179 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Etna, see our County-by-County Page for Etna.
Cemeteries Near Etna ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Etna.
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 Etna - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Etna covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bawcum Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bawcum Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Miller Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hendrix Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Baker Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Haynes Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Stills Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Cheney Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jennings Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Houston Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Wilkins Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (792 more) ...
- Walker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Cheney Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Gibson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
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 Etna in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Etna.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Jeannette
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jeannette is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeannette
- Oakview ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oakview is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakview
- Bible Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bible Hill is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bible Hill
- Toms Creek ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Toms Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toms Creek
- Sugar Tree
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Tree is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Tree
- Sulphur Springs ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Mousetail ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mousetail is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mousetail
- Poplar Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Poplar Springs is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Springs
- Parsons
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- McIllwain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- McIllwain is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIllwain
- Chaseville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Chaseville is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaseville
- Holladay
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Perryville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Perryville is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Coxburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Coxburg is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coxburg
- Morgan ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Morgan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Etna. See our List of 1890's Communities around Etna.
Newspapers Published in Etna ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Etna.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Etna, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Etna.
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 helpful 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 Etna:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Decatur County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Carroll County
- Hardin County
- Henderson County
- Hickman County
- Humphreys County
- Perry County
- Wayne 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 Etna, 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> | 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- Etna) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |