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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 McNairy (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 McNairy. 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.

McNairy is located in McNairy 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 McNairy County: Alcorn (MS), Chester, Hardeman & Hardin.

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

  • McNairy County     (The home county of McNairy)
    • The following are listed by their distance from McNairy, with the one closest to McNairy listed first.
    • Finger
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Bethel Springs
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Purdy
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Purdy is located in McNairy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdy
    • Rose Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Rose Creek is located in McNairy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Creek
    • Leapwood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Leapwood is located in McNairy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leapwood
    • Selmer
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Falcon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Falcon is located in McNairy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falcon
    • Adamsville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Stantonville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Stantonville is located in McNairy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stantonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Eastview
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Eastview is located in McNairy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 702 people
    • Ramer
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Caffey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Caffey is located in McNairy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caffey
  • Chester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McNairy, with the one closest to McNairy listed first.
    • Masseyville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Masseyville is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masseyville
    • Montezuma
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Montezuma is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
    • Sweet Lips
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Sweet Lips is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Lips
    • Henderson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Silerton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Silerton is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silerton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
    • Enville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Enville is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
    • Jacks Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Deanburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Deanburg is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deanburg
      • Estimated population in 2014: 7,395 people
    • Milledgeville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Milledgeville is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milledgeville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 267 people
    • Mifflin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Mifflin is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mifflin
  • Decatur County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McNairy, with the one closest to McNairy listed first.
    • Scotts Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Dunbar
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Dunbar is located in Decatur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
    • Pleasant Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Pleasant Hill is located in Decatur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 566 people
  • Hardeman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McNairy, with the one closest to McNairy listed first.
    • Hornsby
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Hornsby is located in Hardeman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornsby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Teague
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Teague is located in Hardeman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,181 people
    • Shandy
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Shandy is located in Hardeman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shandy
    • Toone
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Toone is located in Hardeman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toone
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 336 people
    • Bolivar
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Essary Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Essary Springs is located in Hardeman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essary Springs
    • Middleton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Rogers Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Rogers Springs is located in Hardeman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers Springs
    • Vildo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Vildo is located in Hardeman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vildo
    • Whiteville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Hickory Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Hickory Valley is located in Hardeman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Valley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McNairy, with the one closest to McNairy listed first.
    • Crump
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Sibley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Sibley is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
    • Pittsburg Landing Ferry
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Pittsburg Landing Ferry is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg Landing Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2014: 555 people
    • Shiloh
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • New Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • New Town is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
    • Savannah
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Belle Meade
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Belle Meade is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Meade
      • Estimated population in 2014: 3,017 people
    • Saltillo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Saltillo is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saltillo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 521 people
    • Hamburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Hamburg is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
    • Paulks ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Paulks is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paulks
    • Nixon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Nixon is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixon
      • Estimated population in 2014: 718 people
    • Centerview
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Centerview is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerview
      • Estimated population in 2014: 244 people
  • Henderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McNairy, with the one closest to McNairy listed first.
    • Rhodes Town
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rhodes Town is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes Town
    • Middle Fork
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Middle Fork is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Fork
    • Huron
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Huron is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
    • Sardis
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Reagan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • White Fern
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • White Fern is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Fern
    • Cedar Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
    • Lexington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Atkins ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Atkins is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
      • Estimated population in 2014: 13,664 people
    • Chesterfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Chesterfield is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 469 people
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McNairy, with the one closest to McNairy listed first.
    • Cisco Indian Village ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Cisco Indian Village is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cisco Indian Village
    • Pinson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Parkburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Parkburg is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkburg
      • Estimated population in 2014: 10,156 people
    • Medon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Malesus
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Malesus is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malesus
    • Jackson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Lawrence
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Lawrence is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrence
      • Estimated population in 2014: 10,498 people
    • Denmark
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Mercer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Mercer is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercer
    • Claybrook
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Claybrook is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claybrook
    • Huntersville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Huntersville is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntersville
    • Oakfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Oakfield is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakfield
  • Alcorn County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from McNairy, with the one closest to McNairy listed first.
    • Corinth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Corinth is located in Alcorn County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,435 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Corinth <1>
    • Farmington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Farmington is located in Alcorn County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,160 people
    • Kossuth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Tippah County (MS)
    • Walnut
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Walnut is located in Tippah County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 736 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Walnut <1>

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

Cemeteries Near McNairy ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of McNairy.

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

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

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

  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Refuge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Carmel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • New Salem Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Old Friendship Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Liberty Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Beaty Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Lanes Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Finger Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Rose Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Roger Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (537 more) ...
    • Little Hatchie Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Estes Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Buena Vista Cemetery
      (5 miles [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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that McNairy had a population of 145 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Masseyville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Masseyville is located in Chester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masseyville
  • Bethel Springs
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Montezuma
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Montezuma is located in Chester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
  • Rose Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Rose Creek is located in McNairy County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Creek
  • Purdy
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Purdy is located in McNairy County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdy
  • Sweet Lips
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Sweet Lips is located in Chester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Lips
  • Selmer
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Henderson
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Pine Top
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Pine Top is located in Hardeman County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Top
  • Falcon
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Falcon is located in McNairy County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falcon
  • Jacks Creek
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Deanburg
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Deanburg is located in Chester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deanburg
    • Estimated population in 2014: 7,395 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Pinson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Adamsville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Stantonville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Stantonville is located in McNairy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stantonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people

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

Newspapers Published in McNairy ...

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 59 newspapers that have been published in the area around McNairy.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of McNairy, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for McNairy.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 McNairy:

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 McNairy, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- McNairy) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.