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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 Fordtown (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 Fordtown. 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 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.

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

  • Sullivan County     (The home county of Fordtown)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fordtown, with the one closest to Fordtown listed first.
    • Kendrick Creek ‑ Historic
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Colonial Heights
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Wahoo ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Wahoo is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahoo
    • Colby ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Colby is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
    • Beechwood Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Beechwood Village is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood Village
    • Borden Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Borden Village is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Village
    • Kingsport
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Thom ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Thom is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thom
    • Horace ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Horace is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horace
    • Orebank
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Cherokee Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Cherokee Village is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Village
    • Rock City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Rock City is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
  • Carter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fordtown, with the one closest to Fordtown listed first.
    • Watauga
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Central
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Central is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
    • Pine Crest
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Pine Crest is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Crest
    • Biltmore
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Elizabethton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Hunter
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Hunter is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
    • Siam
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Gap Run
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Hampton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodby Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodby Hill is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodby Hill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,730 people
    • Tolley Town
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Tolley Town is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolley Town
    • Buladeen
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fordtown, with the one closest to Fordtown listed first.
    • Jearoldstown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Milburnton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Centersville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Rheatown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Baileyton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairview
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairview is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Horse Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Horse Creek is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Creek
      • Estimated population in 2014: 284 people
    • Afton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Ottway
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Pleasant View
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Pleasant View is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
      • Estimated population in 2014: 4,251 people
    • Tusculum
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Tusculum is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tusculum
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,669 people
    • Bolton Estates
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bolton Estates is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton Estates
      • Estimated population in 2014: 5,152 people
  • Hancock County
    • Willis
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Willis is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willis
      • Estimated population in 2014: 387 people
  • Hawkins County
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fordtown, with the one closest to Fordtown listed first.
    • Butler
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • High Health ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • High Health is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Health
  • Unicoi County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fordtown, with the one closest to Fordtown listed first.
    • Whispering Pines
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Unicoi
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Bumpus Cove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Bumpus Cove is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpus Cove
      • Estimated population in 2014: 729 people
    • Erwin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Banner Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Banner Hill is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banner Hill
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,497 people
    • Limestone Cove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Indian Creek ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Indian Creek is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
    • Ernestville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Ernestville is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ernestville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,311 people
    • Clear Branch
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Loganton ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Loganton is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganton
    • Flag Pond
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fordtown, with the one closest to Fordtown listed first.
    • Spurgeon
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Gray
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Wheelocktown ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Oak Grove
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Oak Grove is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Harmony
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Flourville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Fall Branch
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Locust Mount
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Austin Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Austin Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Village
    • Camelot Two
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Camelot Two is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camelot Two
      • Estimated population in 2014: 3,582 people
    • Big Sandy
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Big Sandy is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Sandy
      • Estimated population in 2014: 542 people
    • Ducktown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Ducktown is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ducktown
      • Estimated population in 2014: 457 people
  • Mitchell County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fordtown, with the one closest to Fordtown listed first.
    • Richlands
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Richlands is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
    • Bailey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Bailey is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
    • Buladean
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Fordtown ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fordtown.

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

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

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

  • Copas Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Eastern Star Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Conklin Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Chase Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Ford Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Duncan Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Strickler Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Kendricks Creek Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Wells Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Willard Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Cox Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (885 more) ...
    • Cox Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Copas Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Jones Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)

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 Fordtown had a population of 29 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Kendrick Creek ‑ Historic
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Slaughter ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Slaughter is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughter
  • Wahoo ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Wahoo is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahoo
  • Samuel ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Samuel is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samuel
  • Hemlock
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Hemlock is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemlock
  • Meadowbrook
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Meadowbrook is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
  • Boring
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Boring is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boring
  • Colby ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Colby is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
  • Harmony
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Cloverbottom ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Cloverbottom is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverbottom
  • Eden Ridge ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Eden Ridge is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden Ridge
  • Keebler Crossroads
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Keebler Crossroads is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keebler Crossroads
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Kingsport
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Hilton ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Hilton is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton
    • Butterfly ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Butterfly is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfly

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

Newspapers Published in Fordtown ...

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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fordtown.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fordtown, there are papers which were published within 6 miles [9.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fordtown.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Fordtown:

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 Fordtown, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Fordtown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.