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 Oak Park (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 Oak Park. 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 northeast 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 north.
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 north 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.
Oak Park is primarily located in Franklin County. A portion of Oak Park extends into Coffee 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 Franklin County: Jackson (AL), Madison (AL), Coffee, Grundy, Lincoln, Marion & Moore.
Below are the counties that are near Oak Park. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oak Park:
- Franklin County (The home county of Oak Park)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Winchester Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Winchester Springs is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester Springs
- Estill Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Garner Ford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Garner Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 309 people
- Decherd
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Winchester
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lexie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Lexie is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexie
- Greenhaw
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Greenhaw is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenhaw
- Liberty
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Estimated population in 2014: 318 people
- Cowan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Beans Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Beans Creek is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Creek
- Saint Marys
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Marys is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
- Estimated population in 2014: 785 people
- Sewanee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Cascade Hollow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Cascade Hollow is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade Hollow
- Willow Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Willow Grove is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Grove
- Normandy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Raus
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Raus is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raus
- Cortner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cortner is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cortner
- Haley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Haley is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haley
- Wartrace
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shelbyville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bell Buckle
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Anchor Mill ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Anchor Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchor Mill
- Vannatta
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Vannatta is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vannatta
- Estimated population in 2014: 398 people
- Whitaker
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Whitaker is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitaker
- Cannon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Hollow Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hollow Springs is located in Cannon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollow Springs
- Estimated population in 2014: 706 people
- Burgen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Burgen is located in Cannon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgen
- Bradyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bradyville is located in Cannon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradyville
- Burt
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Burt is located in Cannon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
- Coffee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Southgate Park
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Southgate Park is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southgate Park
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,284 people
- Tullahoma
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Homaway Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Homaway Village is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homaway Village
- Belmont
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Belmont is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Royal Oaks
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Royal Oaks is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Oaks
- Manchester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Busy Corner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Busy Corner is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busy Corner
- Hillsboro
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Ruthledge Ford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Ruthledge Ford is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruthledge Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,116 people
- Forest Mill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Mill is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Mill
- New Union
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- New Union is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Union
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,431 people
- Stephenson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Stephenson is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stephenson
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Pelham
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Monteagle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Sartain Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Sartain Springs is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartain Springs
- Estimated population in 2014: 380 people
- Tracy City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Altamont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lankford Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lankford Town is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lankford Town
- Coalmont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Coalmont is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalmont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 842 people
- White City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- White City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Gattistown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gattistown is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gattistown
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,158 people
- Booneville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Booneville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booneville
- Belleville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Belleville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
- Flintville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Flintville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flintville
- Population from the 2010 Census: 627 people
- Clarks Ferry
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Clarks Ferry is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 387 people
- Corder Crossroads
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Corder Crossroads is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corder Crossroads
- Elk Mill Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Elk Mill Village is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Mill Village
- Fayetteville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Petersburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Howell Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Howell Hill is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell Hill
- Harms
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Harms is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harms
- Park City Heights
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Park City Heights is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City Heights
- Population from the 2010 Census: 2,442 people
- Marion County
- Comfort
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Comfort is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comfort
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Talley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Talley is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talley
- Belfast
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Belfast is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfast
- Oak Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Oak Hill is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Orrs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Orrs is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrs
- Estimated population in 2014: 123 people
- Delina
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Delina is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delina
- Moore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Ridgeville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ridgeville is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
- Countyline
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Countyline is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countyline
- Lynchburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rutherford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Plainview
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Plainview is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainview
- Midland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Midland is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
- Burns Place
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Burns Place is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns Place
- Rucker
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Rucker is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rucker
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Morrison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Viola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Trousdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Trousdale is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trousdale
- Jackson County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Francisco
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Francisco is located in Jackson County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francisco
- Greerton ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Greerton is located in Jackson County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greerton
- Estillfork
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Estillfork is located in Jackson County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estillfork
- Madison County (AL)
- Hillsboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hillsboro is located in Madison County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oak Park, see our County-by-County Page for Oak Park.
Cemeteries Near Oak Park ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oak Park.
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 Oak Park - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oak Park covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Evergreen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Maplewood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Lasater Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Holt Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Mangum Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Brown Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Holt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Camp Forrest Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pylant Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Gilbert Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pennington Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (1456 more) ...
- Price Essmann Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Reynolds Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hoover Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
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 Oak Park in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oak Park.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Tullahoma
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Ridgeville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ridgeville is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
- Awalt ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Awalt is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awalt
- Normandy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Estill Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Countyline
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Countyline is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countyline
- Belmont
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Belmont is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Lynchburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cortner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cortner is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cortner
- Singleton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Singleton is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Singleton
- Haley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Haley is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haley
- Manchester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Flat Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Flat Creek is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Creek
- Winchester
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Decherd
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oak Park. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oak Park.
Newspapers Published in Oak Park ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oak Park.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oak Park, 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 Oak Park.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Oak Park:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Franklin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bedford County
- Cannon County
- Coffee County
- Grundy County
- Lincoln County
- Marion County
- Marshall County
- Moore County
- Rutherford County
- Warren County
- Jackson County
- Madison 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 Oak Park, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Oak Park) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |