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 Idlewild (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 Idlewild. 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 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.
Idlewild is located in Gibson 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 Gibson County: Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Madison & Weakley.
Below are the counties that are near Idlewild. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Idlewild:
- Gibson County (The home county of Idlewild)
- The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
- Bradford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Concord
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Union Central
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Union Central is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Central
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,574 people
- Whitway
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Whitway is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitway
- Four Points
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Four Points is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Points
- Ledbetter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ledbetter is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledbetter
- Estimated population in 2014: 29,427 people
- Milan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Trenton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gibson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Gibson is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 384 people
- Dyer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Graball
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Graball is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graball
- Population from the 2010 Census: 236 people
- Rutherford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sitka
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Sitka is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
- Atwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Atwood is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 915 people
- Trezevant
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Wingo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Wingo is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingo
- Whitthorne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Whitthorne is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitthorne
- McLemoresville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- McLemoresville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLemoresville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
- Lavinia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hico
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Hico is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hico
- McKenzie
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Huntingdon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Anark
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Anark is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anark
- Concord
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Concord is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Clarksburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Clarksburg is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
- Crockett County
- The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
- Gadsden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gadsden is located in Crockett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gadsden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
- Elizabeth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Elizabeth is located in Crockett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elizabeth
- Estimated population in 2014: 14,271 people
- Crockett Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Crockett Mills is located in Crockett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crockett Mills
- Fruitvale
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Fruitvale is located in Crockett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitvale
- Alamo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Maury Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Maury Junction is located in Crockett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maury Junction
- Estimated population in 2014: 679 people
- Friendship
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Friendship is located in Crockett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Bells
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Maury City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Maury City is located in Crockett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maury City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 653 people
- Johnsons Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Johnsons Grove is located in Crockett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsons Grove
- Dyer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
- Churchton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Churchton is located in Dyer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchton
- Estimated population in 2014: 6,752 people
- Tatumville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Tatumville is located in Dyer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tatumville
- Trimble
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Trimble is located in Dyer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Population from the 2020 Census: 602 people
- Tigrett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Tigrett is located in Dyer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tigrett
- Newbern
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bishop
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Bishop is located in Dyer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
- Haywood County
- Owl City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Owl City is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owl City
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
- McHaney ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- McHaney is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McHaney
- Atkins ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Atkins is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
- Estimated population in 2014: 13,664 people
- Union Cross
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Union Cross is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cross
- Estimated population in 2014: 10,666 people
- Parkers Crossroads
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- White Fern
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- White Fern is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Fern
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
- Henry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Haglerville ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Haglerville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haglerville
- New Boston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- New Boston is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Cottage Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
- Three Way
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Three Way is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Way
- Spring Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Spring Creek is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Windy City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Windy City is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windy City
- Oakfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Oakfield is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakfield
- Claybrook
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Claybrook is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claybrook
- Lawrence
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Lawrence is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrence
- Estimated population in 2014: 10,498 people
- Jackson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Providence
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Providence is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Huntersville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Huntersville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntersville
- Obion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
- Kenton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kenton is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,190 people
- Obion
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Obion is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,043 people
- Rives
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rives is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rives
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- McConnell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- McConnell is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McConnell
- Troy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Englewood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Englewood is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englewood
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,532 people
- Union City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Weakley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
- Greenfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Pillowville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pillowville is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pillowville
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,625 people
- Sharon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Sidonia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Sidonia is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidonia
- Gleason
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dresden
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Ralston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ralston is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralston
- Tumbling
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tumbling is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tumbling
- Martin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Ore Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ore Springs is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ore Springs
- Dunlap ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dunlap is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,068 people
- Terrell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Terrell is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrell
- Latham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Latham is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latham
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Idlewild, see our County-by-County Page for Idlewild.
Cemeteries Near Idlewild ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Idlewild.
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 Idlewild - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Idlewild covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
- Olivers Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Davidson Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vaughns Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pratt Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Belews Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bruff Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Locust Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Griffins Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (635 more) ...
- Whitehall Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Martin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hughes Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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 Idlewild had a population of 127 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
- Bradford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Gann
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Gann is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gann
- Trenton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Milan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Atwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Atwood is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 915 people
- Greenfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Christmasville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Christmasville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christmasville
- Gibson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Gibson is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 384 people
- Trezevant
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Dyer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Fruitland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fruitland is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Pillowville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pillowville is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pillowville
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,625 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Whitthorne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Whitthorne is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitthorne
- Rutherford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Medina
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Idlewild. See our List of 1890's Communities around Idlewild.
Newspapers Published in Idlewild ...
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 86 newspapers that have been published in the area around Idlewild.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Idlewild, 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 Idlewild.
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 Idlewild:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Gibson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carroll County
- Crockett County
- Dyer County
- Haywood County
- Henderson County
- Henry County
- Madison County
- Obion County
- Weakley 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> | 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 Idlewild, 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' (or 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- Idlewild) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |