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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 French Broad (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 French Broad. 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.

French Broad is located in Cocke 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 Cocke County: Haywood (NC), Madison (NC), Greene, Hamblen, Jefferson & Sevier.

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

  • Cocke County     (The home county of French Broad)
    • The following are listed by their distance from French Broad, with the one closest to French Broad listed first.
    • Wolf Creek
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Wolf Creek is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Creek
    • Del Rio
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Nough
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Nough is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nough
    • Tom Town
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Tom Town is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tom Town
    • West Myers
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • West Myers is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Myers
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,282 people
    • Naillon ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Naillon is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naillon
    • Bridgeport
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Bridgeport is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
    • Parrottsville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hartford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Edwina
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Edwina is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwina
    • Jimtown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jimtown is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
    • Wilton Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Wilton Springs is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton Springs
    • Jaybird
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Jaybird is located in Cocke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaybird
      • Estimated population in 2014: 3,299 people
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from French Broad, with the one closest to French Broad listed first.
    • Sirenburg ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Sirenburg is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sirenburg
    • Cedar Creek
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedar Creek is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
    • Bright Hope
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Bright Hope is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright Hope
    • Little Chucky ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Little Chucky is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Chucky
    • Warrensburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Warrensburg is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrensburg
    • Camp Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Camp Creek is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Creek
    • Midway
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Beulah
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Beulah is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
    • Mosheim
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Greeneville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Water Fork Mill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Water Fork Mill is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Fork Mill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 445 people
    • Forest Hills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Forest Hills is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
      • Estimated population in 2014: 5,027 people
    • Henshaw ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Henshaw is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henshaw
      • Estimated population in 2014: 470 people
  • Hamblen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from French Broad, with the one closest to French Broad listed first.
    • Silver City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Silver City is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
    • Monte Vista Estates
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Monte Vista Estates is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monte Vista Estates
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,860 people
    • Whitesburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • East Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • East Village is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
    • Morristown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Bright ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Bright is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,942 people
    • Casablanca
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Casablanca is located in Hamblen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casablanca
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,223 people
  • Hawkins County
    • The following are listed by their distance from French Broad, with the one closest to French Broad listed first.
    • Bulls Gap
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Persia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Persia is located in Hawkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
    • Strahl
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Strahl is located in Hawkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strahl
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from French Broad, with the one closest to French Broad listed first.
    • Baneberry
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Leadvale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Leadvale is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leadvale
    • White Pine
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Edna
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Edna is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
    • Dandridge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Talbott
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Flat Gap
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Flat Gap is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Gap
    • Rock Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Rock Town is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Town
  • Sevier County
    • The following are listed by their distance from French Broad, with the one closest to French Broad listed first.
    • Pittman Center
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Pittman Center is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittman Center
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 545 people
    • East Fork
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • East Fork is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
    • Harrisburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Harrisburg is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
      • Estimated population in 2014: 6,219 people
    • Millican Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Millican Grove is located in Sevier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millican Grove
  • Unicoi County
    • The following are listed by their distance from French Broad, with the one closest to French Broad listed first.
    • Flag Pond
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Flag Pond is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flag Pond
    • Loganton ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Loganton is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganton
    • Clear Branch
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Clear Branch is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Branch
      • Former name for Clear Branch:
      • Kittyton
    • Ernestville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ernestville is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ernestville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,311 people
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from French Broad, with the one closest to French Broad listed first.
    • Nolichucky ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Nolichucky is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nolichucky
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 5,861 people
    • Limestone
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Buncombe County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from French Broad, with the one closest to French Broad listed first.
    • Sandymush
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Sandymush is located in Buncombe County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandymush
      • Sandymush has also been known as:
      • Sandy Mush
    • Leicester
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Alexander
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Newfound
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Newfound is located in Buncombe County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newfound
    • Flat Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Flat Creek is located in Buncombe County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Creek
    • Stoney Knob
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Stoney Knob is located in Buncombe County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Knob
    • Weaverville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodfin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodfin is located in Buncombe County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodfin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,679 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Woodfin <1>
    • Democrat
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Democrat is located in Buncombe County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Democrat
    • Barnardsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Acton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Acton is located in Buncombe County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
    • Candler
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Emma
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Emma is located in Buncombe County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emma
  • Haywood County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from French Broad, with the one closest to French Broad listed first.
    • Mount Sterling
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Mount Sterling is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
    • Teague ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Teague is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
    • Clyde
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Clyde is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,308 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clyde <1>
    • Lake Junaluska
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • West Canton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • West Canton is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Canton
    • Canton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Canton is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,369 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Canton <1>
    • Maggie Valley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Morning Star
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Morning Star is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morning Star
    • Waynesville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Bethel
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Bethel is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
    • Hazelwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Hazelwood is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
    • Sonoma ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Sonoma is located in Haywood County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
  • Madison County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from French Broad, with the one closest to French Broad listed first.
    • Hot Springs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Bluff
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Bluff is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff
    • Lynch ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Lynch is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch
    • Spring Creek
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Spring Creek is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
    • Hurricane
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Hurricane is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurricane
    • Stackhouse
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Stackhouse is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stackhouse
    • Trust
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Trust is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
    • Allenstand
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Allenstand is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenstand
    • Walnut
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Walnut is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
    • Chapel Hill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Chapel Hill is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
    • Cutshalltown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Cutshalltown is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutshalltown
    • White Rock
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • White Rock is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
    • Allegheny
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Allegheny is located in Madison County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allegheny

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

Cemeteries Near French Broad ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of French Broad.

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 French Broad - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Justis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Justis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Cutshall Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Cutshall Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Mooneyham Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Mooneyham Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Crowder Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Varner Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (665 more) ...
    • Calder Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Grigby Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Smith Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 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>

While we didn't find French Broad in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of French Broad.

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

  • Jonestown ‑ Historic
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Jonestown is located in Cocke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonestown
  • Nough
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Nough is located in Cocke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nough
  • Wolf Creek
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Wolf Creek is located in Cocke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Creek
  • Del Rio
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Paint Rock
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Paint Rock is located in Madison County (NC)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Rock
  • Sirenburg ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Sirenburg is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sirenburg
  • Naillon ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Naillon is located in Cocke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naillon
  • Lynch ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Lynch is located in Madison County (NC)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch
  • Salem
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Salem is located in Cocke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
  • Bluff
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Bluff is located in Madison County (NC)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff
  • Hot Springs
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Bridgeport
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Bridgeport is located in Cocke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Cedar Creek
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedar Creek is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
    • Caney Branch
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Caney Branch is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney Branch
    • Parrottsville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in French Broad ...

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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around French Broad.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of French Broad, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for French Broad.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 French Broad:

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 French Broad, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- French Broad) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.