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 Okolona (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 Okolona. 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.
Okolona is located in Hawkins 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 Hawkins County: Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Sullivan, Washington, Lee (VA) & Scott (VA).
Below are the counties that are near Okolona. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Okolona:
- Hawkins County (The home county of Okolona)
- The following are listed by their distance from Okolona, with the one closest to Okolona listed first.
- New Canton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Canton is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Canton
- Greenland
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Greenland is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenland
- Block City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Block City is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Block City
- Church Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Carmel
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Waycross
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Waycross is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waycross
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,091 people
- Green Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Green Village is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Village
- Frisco
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Frisco is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Solitude ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Solitude is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solitude
- Greenvale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Greenvale is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenvale
- Rotherwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Rotherwood is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rotherwood
- Blossom
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Blossom is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blossom
- Carter County
- Watauga
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Watauga is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watauga
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Okolona, with the one closest to Okolona listed first.
- Jearoldstown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Jearoldstown is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jearoldstown
- Baileyton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Milburnton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Milburnton is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milburnton
- Morelock ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Morelock is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morelock
- Centersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Centersville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centersville
- Ottway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Ottway is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottway
- Romeo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Romeo is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romeo
- Albany
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Albany is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
- Fairview
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Fairview is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Rheatown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Rheatown is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rheatown
- Afton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Bolton Estates
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Bolton Estates is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton Estates
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,152 people
- Hamblen County
- Whitesburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Okolona, with the one closest to Okolona listed first.
- Willis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Willis is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willis
- Estimated population in 2014: 387 people
- Kyles Ford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Trent Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Trent Valley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trent Valley
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,157 people
- Sneedville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Duck Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Duck Creek is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duck Creek
- Yount Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Yount Town is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yount Town
- Sullivan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Okolona, with the one closest to Okolona listed first.
- Beartown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Beartown is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beartown
- Blair Gap
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Blair Gap is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair Gap
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,870 people
- Cherokee Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Cherokee Village is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Village
- Morrison City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Morrison City is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison City
- Borden Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Borden Village is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Village
- Horace ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Horace is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horace
- Kingsport
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Beechwood Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Beechwood Village is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood Village
- Bloomingdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Bloomingdale is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomingdale
- Population from the 2010 Census: 9,888 people
- Colonial Heights
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kendrick Creek ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kendrick Creek is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendrick Creek
- Fordtown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fordtown is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fordtown
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Okolona, with the one closest to Okolona listed first.
- Fall Branch
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Harmony
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Harmony is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- Wheelocktown ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wheelocktown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelocktown
- Ducktown
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ducktown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ducktown
- Estimated population in 2014: 457 people
- Gray
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Locust Mount
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Locust Mount is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Mount
- Spurgeon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Spurgeon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurgeon
- Population from the 2010 Census: 3,957 people
- Big Sandy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Big Sandy is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Sandy
- Estimated population in 2014: 542 people
- Bowmantown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bowmantown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowmantown
- Population from the 2010 Census: 302 people
- Oak Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Mill Brook
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Mill Brook is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Brook
- Leesburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Leesburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesburg
- Harlan County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Okolona, with the one closest to Okolona listed first.
- Holmes Mill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Holmes Mill is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes Mill
- Cranks
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cranks is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranks
- Dizney
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dizney is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dizney
- Lynch
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Closplint
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Closplint is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Closplint
- Benham
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cawood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cawood is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cawood
- Kenvir
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Kenvir is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenvir
- Louellen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Louellen is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louellen
- Bobs Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bobs Creek is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bobs Creek
- Redbud
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Redbud is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbud
- Short Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Short Town is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Town
- Letcher County (KY)
- Partridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Partridge is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Partridge
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Okolona, see our County-by-County Page for Okolona.
Cemeteries Near Okolona ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Okolona.
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 Okolona - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Okolona covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Okolona, with the one closest to Okolona listed first.
- Hord Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wills Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Christian Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Tartar Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Monroe Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Monroe Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cooper Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Larkin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Davis Larkins Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Patterson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Price Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Loyd Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (737 more) ...
- Wills Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Bussell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Looney Mauk Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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 Okolona in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Okolona.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Okolona, with the one closest to Okolona listed first.
- Opossum ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Opossum is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Opossum
- Starnes ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Starnes is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starnes
- New Canton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Canton is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Canton
- Church Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Stony Point
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stony Point is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Point
- Mole
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Mole is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mole
- Solitude ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Solitude is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solitude
- Surgoinsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Blossom
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Blossom is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blossom
- Rotherwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Rotherwood is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rotherwood
- Fisher Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fisher Creek is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher Creek
- Vogel ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vogel is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vogel
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Chimneytop ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Chimneytop is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chimneytop
- Harbour
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Harbour is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbour
- Butterfly ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Butterfly is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfly
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Okolona. See our List of 1890's Communities around Okolona.
Newspapers Published in Okolona ...
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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Okolona.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Okolona, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Okolona.
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 helpful 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 Okolona:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Hawkins County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carter County
- Greene County
- Hamblen County
- Hancock County
- Sullivan County
- Washington County
- Harlan County
- Letcher 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 Okolona, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Okolona) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |