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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 Finley (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 Finley. 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.

Finley is located in Dyer 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 Dyer County: Mississippi (AR), Pemiscot (MO), Crockett, Gibson, Lake, Lauderdale & Obion.

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

  • Dyer County     (The home county of Finley)
  • Crockett County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
    • Chestnut Bluff
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Friendship
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Elizabeth
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Elizabeth is located in Crockett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elizabeth
      • Estimated population in 2014: 14,271 people
    • Maury Junction
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Maury Junction is located in Crockett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maury Junction
      • Estimated population in 2014: 679 people
    • Crockett Mills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Maury City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Maury City is located in Crockett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maury City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 653 people
    • Johnsons Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Alamo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Gibson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
    • Yorkville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Yorkville is located in Gibson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
    • Tilghman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Brazil
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Dyer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Rutherford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Trenton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Haywood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
    • Woodville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Toulon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Nutbush
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Owl City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Owl City is located in Haywood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owl City
    • Bradford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Bradford is located in Haywood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,017 people
  • Lake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
    • Ridgely
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Powells Ferry
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Powells Ferry is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powells Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,319 people
    • Owl City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Owl City is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owl City
    • Sunkist Beach
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Sunkist Beach is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunkist Beach
      • Estimated population in 2014: 547 people
    • Tiptonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Proctor City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Proctor City is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor City
    • New Markham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • New Markham is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Markham
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,354 people
  • Lauderdale County
  • Obion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
    • Obion
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Obion is located in Obion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obion
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,043 people
    • Hornbeak
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Samburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Troy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Troy is located in Obion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,328 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Troy <1>
    • Kenton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Englewood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Englewood is located in Obion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englewood
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,532 people
  • Mississippi County (AR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
    • Barfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Armorel
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Armorel is located in Mississippi County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armorel
    • Blytheville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Gosnell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Gosnell is located in Mississippi County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gosnell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,066 people
    • Burdette
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Dunklin County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
    • Tinkerville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Rives
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Rives is located in Dunklin County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rives
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
  • New Madrid County (MO)
  • Pemiscot County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
    • Caruthersville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Cooter
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Cooter is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 397 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cooter <1>
    • Hayti Heights
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hayti Heights is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayti Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
    • Hayti
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Braggadocio
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Braggadocio is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braggadocio
    • Holland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Holland is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 193 people
    • Steele
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Steele is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steele
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,853 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Steele <1>
    • Netherlands
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Stewart
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Deering
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Deering is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deering
    • Pascola
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Pascola is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pascola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
    • Mid City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Mid City is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
    • Gobler
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Gobler is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gobler

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

Cemeteries Near Finley ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Finley.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Finley had a post office and no railroad service. In 2014, Finley had a population of 299 people.

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

  • Dyersburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Fowlkes
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Boothspoint
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Double Bridges
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Double Bridges is located in Lauderdale County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Bridges
  • Tennemo
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Tennemo is located in Dyer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennemo
  • Ayers
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Ayers is located in Dyer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers
  • Hales Point
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hales Point is located in Lauderdale County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Point
  • Nankipoo
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Nankipoo is located in Lauderdale County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nankipoo
  • Halls
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • RoEllen
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • RoEllen is located in Dyer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for RoEllen
  • Lane
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Lane is located in Dyer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lane
  • Cottonwood Point
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Cottonwood Point is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood Point
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Finley ...

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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Finley.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Finley, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Finley.

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 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 Finley:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Finley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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>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 Finley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.