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 Heath (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 Heath. 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.
Heath is located in Johnson 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 Johnson County: Ashe (NC), Avery (NC), Watauga (NC), Carter, Sullivan, Grayson (VA) & Washington (VA).
Below are the counties that are near Heath. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Heath:
- Johnson County (The home county of Heath)
- The following are listed by their distance from Heath, with the one closest to Heath listed first.
- Dowell ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dowell is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowell
- Estimated population in 2014: 364 people
- Mountain City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fuller
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Fuller is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
- Shingletown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Shingletown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shingletown
- Trade
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Winchester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Winchester is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Estimated population in 2014: 8,547 people
- High Health ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- High Health is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Health
- Norris
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Norris is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,652 people
- Butler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Carter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Heath, with the one closest to Heath listed first.
- Buladeen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Buladeen is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladeen
- Former names for Buladeen:
- Colesville
- Magnetic
- Fish Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Fish Springs is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Springs
- Hunter
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hunter is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Siam
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Siam is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siam
- Shell Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Shell Creek is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shell Creek
- Estimated population in 2014: 21,037 people
- Hampton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Roan Mountain
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Biltmore
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Biltmore is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biltmore
- Elizabethton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Heaton Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Heaton Creek is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heaton Creek
- Burbank
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Burbank is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burbank
- Gap Run
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gap Run is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gap Run
- Sullivan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Heath, with the one closest to Heath listed first.
- Fishdam ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fishdam is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishdam
- Holston Valley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Holston Valley is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holston Valley
- Ruthton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Ruthton is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruthton
- Hunter Hills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Hunter Hills is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Hills
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,854 people
- Forest Hills
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Hills is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Cedar Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Cedar Grove is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Bristol
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bluff City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bluff City is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,672 people
- Former name for Bluff City:
- Zollicoffer
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bluff City <1>
- Childress
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Childress is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childress
- Collingwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Walnut Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Walnut Hill is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill
- Akard Addition
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Akard Addition is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akard Addition
- Alleghany County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Heath, with the one closest to Heath listed first.
- Scottville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Topia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Topia is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topia
- Piney Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Laurel Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ashe County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Heath, with the one closest to Heath listed first.
- Ashland
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Ashland is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Grayson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Grayson is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Creston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Roten
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Roten is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roten
- Apple Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Apple Grove is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
- Comet
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Comet is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet
- Lansing
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Warrensville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Todd
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Brandon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Brandon is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
- Jefferson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Sturgills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sturgills is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgills
- Avery County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Heath, with the one closest to Heath listed first.
- Mount Gilead
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Gilead is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gilead
- Whaley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Whaley is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
- Beech Mountain
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Banner Elk
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Seven Devils
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Sugar Mountain
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Sugar Mountain is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Elk Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Grandfather
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Grandfather is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandfather
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
- Vale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Vale is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vale
- Linville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Newland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Minneapolis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Minneapolis is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minneapolis
- Caldwell County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Heath, with the one closest to Heath listed first.
- Blowing Rock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Mulberry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mulberry is located in Caldwell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Watauga County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Heath, with the one closest to Heath listed first.
- Zionville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mabel
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Mabel is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
- Sugar Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Norris ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Norris is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Vilas
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Watauga Falls ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Watauga Falls is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watauga Falls
- Moretz
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Moretz is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moretz
- Sands
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sands is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Boone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Boone is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,003 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boone <1>
- Rominger
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Rominger is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rominger
- Valle Crucis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Matney
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Matney is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Wilkes County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Heath, with the one closest to Heath listed first.
- Maple Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Maple Springs is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Springs
- Hendrix ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hendrix is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
- Wilbar
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wilbar is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbar
- McGrady
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- McGrady is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGrady
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Heath, see our County-by-County Page for Heath.
Cemeteries Near Heath ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Heath.
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 Heath - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Heath covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Heath, with the one closest to Heath listed first.
- McEwen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Brown Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Dowell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Forrester Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Dunn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hampton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Vanover Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jones Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hampton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Brown Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Payne Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (623 more) ...
- Hammon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Greer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Snyder 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.<3>
While we didn't find Heath in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Heath.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Heath, with the one closest to Heath listed first.
- Osborn
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Osborn is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
- Mountain City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Silver Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Silver Lake is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
- Sutherland
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Sutherland is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutherland
- Grayson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Grayson is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Little Doe
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Little Doe is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Doe
- Trade
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Laurel Bloomery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Creston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Roten
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Roten is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roten
- Zionville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Fig
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Fig is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fig
- Reese
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Reese is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reese
- Pandora
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pandora is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pandora
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Heath. See our List of 1890's Communities around Heath.
Newspapers Published in Heath ...
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 19 newspapers that have been published in the area around Heath.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Heath, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Heath.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Heath:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Johnson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carter County
- Sullivan County
- Alleghany County
- Ashe County
- Avery County
- Caldwell County
- Watauga County
- Wilkes County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Tennessee
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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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 Heath, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Heath) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |