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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 Ocoee (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 Ocoee. 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 and hospitals 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.

Ocoee is located in Polk 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 Polk County: Fannin (GA), Murray (GA), Cherokee (NC), Bradley, McMinn & Monroe.

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

  • Polk County     (The home county of Ocoee)
  • Bradley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ocoee, with the one closest to Ocoee listed first.
    • East Cleveland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • East Cleveland is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cleveland
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,608 people
    • South Cleveland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • South Cleveland is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Cleveland
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 6,912 people
    • Wildwood Lake
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Wildwood Lake is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood Lake
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 3,124 people
    • Bellefounte
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Cleveland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Charleston
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Countryside Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Countryside Village is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside Village
    • Earnest ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Earnest is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earnest
    • Hopewell Estates
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Hopewell Estates is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell Estates
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,874 people
    • Hopewell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Hopewell is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
    • Bent Tree Acres
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Bent Tree Acres is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Tree Acres
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,309 people
    • McDonald
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ocoee, with the one closest to Ocoee listed first.
    • Howardville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Apison
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Collegedale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Ooltewah
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Birchwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Auburn Hills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Auburn Hills is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn Hills
      • Estimated population in 2014: 929 people
    • Harrison Ferry
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Harrison Ferry is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison Ferry
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 7,769 people
    • Harrison
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Lake Dweller
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Lakesite
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Lakesite is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakesite
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,866 people
    • Ryall Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Ryall Springs is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryall Springs
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,166 people
    • Lakewood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Lakewood is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
      • Estimated population in 2011: 2,336 people
  • McMinn County
  • Meigs County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ocoee, with the one closest to Ocoee listed first.
    • East View
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • East View is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East View
      • Estimated population in 2014: 705 people
    • Beta
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Goodfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Cayuga Town ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Cayuga Town is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga Town
    • Decatur
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Calico
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Calico is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calico
      • Estimated population in 2014: 495 people
    • Cute ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Cute is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cute
  • Monroe County
  • Rhea County
  • Catoosa County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ocoee, with the one closest to Ocoee listed first.
    • Mount Vernon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Mount Vernon is located in Catoosa County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,371 people
    • Catoosa Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Graysville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Ringgold
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Indian Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Indian Springs is located in Catoosa County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs
    • Poplar Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Dafron
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Dafron is located in Catoosa County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dafron
      • Estimated population in 2019: 7,294 people
    • Ellie Spring
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ellie Spring is located in Catoosa County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellie Spring
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,714 people
    • Boynton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Fannin County (GA)
  • Gilmer County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ocoee, with the one closest to Ocoee listed first.
    • Santaluca
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Santaluca is located in Gilmer County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santaluca
    • Tails Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Cherry Log
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Murray County (GA)
  • Whitfield County (GA)
  • Cherokee County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ocoee, with the one closest to Ocoee listed first.
    • Burger Town
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Burger Town is located in Cherokee County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burger Town
    • Liberty
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Pleasant Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Postell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Hothouse
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Vests
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Hiwassee Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Hiwassee Village is located in Cherokee County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hiwassee Village

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

Cemeteries Near Ocoee ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ocoee.

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

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

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

  • Lowery Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Chestuee Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Cumberland Shed Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Cumberland Shed Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Mueller Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Mueller Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Thompson Springs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Nancy Ward Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Lebanon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Chestuee Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Swan Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Dills Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (645 more) ...
    • Dills Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Chilcutt Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Carden Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Ocoee had a population of 24 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Fetzerton ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Fetzerton is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fetzerton
  • Oldfort
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Parksville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Parksville is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parksville
  • Benton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Climer
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Climer is located in Bradley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climer
  • Tasso
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Tasso is located in Bradley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tasso
  • Felker
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Felker is located in Bradley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felker
  • Conasauga
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Patty
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Patty is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patty
  • Sylco
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Sylco is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylco
  • Chable ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Chable is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chable
  • Cleveland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Alaculsy
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Alaculsy is located in Murray County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alaculsy
    • Luskville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Charleston
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Ocoee ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ocoee.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ocoee, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ocoee.

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 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 Ocoee:

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>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- Ocoee) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 Ocoee, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.