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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 Ooltewah (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 Ooltewah. 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.

Ooltewah is located in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County: Catoosa (GA), Dade (GA), Walker (GA), Whitfield (GA), Bledsoe, Bradley, Marion, Meigs, Rhea & Sequatchie.

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

  • Hamilton County     (The home county of Ooltewah)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ooltewah, with the one closest to Ooltewah listed first.
    • Collegedale
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Auburn Hills
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Auburn Hills is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn Hills
      • Estimated population in 2014: 929 people
    • Apison
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Ryall Springs
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Ryall Springs is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryall Springs
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,166 people
    • Harrison
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Howardville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • East Brainerd
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • East Brainerd is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brainerd
    • Harrison Ferry
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Harrison Ferry is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison Ferry
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 7,769 people
    • Brainerd Hills
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake Dweller
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hillsboro Heights
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Hillsboro Heights is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro Heights
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 450 people
    • Kings Point
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Boyce
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Boyce is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyce
  • Bledsoe County
  • Bradley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ooltewah, with the one closest to Ooltewah listed first.
    • Mineral Park
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • McDonald
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bent Tree Acres
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bent Tree Acres is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Tree Acres
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,309 people
    • Wildwood Lake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Wildwood Lake is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood Lake
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 3,124 people
    • Cleveland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • South Cleveland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • South Cleveland is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Cleveland
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 6,912 people
    • Earnest ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Earnest is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earnest
    • East Cleveland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • East Cleveland is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cleveland
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,608 people
    • Countryside Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Countryside Village is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside Village
    • Hopewell Estates
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hopewell Estates is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell Estates
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,874 people
    • Hopewell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hopewell is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
    • Bellefounte
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Etola
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Marion County
  • McMinn County
  • Meigs County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ooltewah, with the one closest to Ooltewah listed first.
    • East View
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • East View is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East View
      • Estimated population in 2014: 705 people
    • Cayuga Town ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Cayuga Town is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga Town
    • Beta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Polk County
  • Rhea County
  • Sequatchie County
  • Catoosa County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ooltewah, with the one closest to Ooltewah listed first.
    • Mount Vernon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Mount Vernon is located in Catoosa County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,371 people
    • Graysville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Indian Springs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Indian Springs is located in Catoosa County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs
    • Catoosa Springs
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Ringgold
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Dafron
      (10 miles [16.1 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
      (10 miles [16.1 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
    • Poplar Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Boynton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Newnan Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Newnan Springs is located in Catoosa County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newnan Springs
      • Estimated population in 2019: 41,581 people
    • Lakeview
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Lakeview is located in Catoosa County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
    • Midway
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Fort Oglethorpe
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Dade County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ooltewah, with the one closest to Ooltewah listed first.
    • Wildwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Morganville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Morganville is located in Dade County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morganville
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,835 people
    • Trenton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Cole City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Cole City is located in Dade County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cole City
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 127 people
  • Murray County (GA)
  • Walker County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ooltewah, with the one closest to Ooltewah listed first.
    • John Ross Estates
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • John Ross Estates is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for John Ross Estates
      • Estimated population in 2018: 84,310 people
    • Park City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Park City is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City
    • Rossville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Dewberry Town
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Dewberry Town is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewberry Town
    • Fairview
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Orchard Hills
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Orchard Hills is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
      • Estimated population in 2019: 232 people
    • Lytle
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Lytle is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lytle
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 37,115 people
    • Warren Terrace
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Warren Terrace is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Terrace
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,720 people
    • Fantasy Hills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Fantasy Hills is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fantasy Hills
      • Estimated population in 2019: 316 people
    • Happy Valley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Happy Valley is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Happy Valley
      • Estimated population in 2019: 192 people
    • Flintstone
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lookout Mountain
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Rock City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Rock City is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
  • Whitfield County (GA)

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

Cemeteries Near Ooltewah ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ooltewah.

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

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

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

  • Ooltewah Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Pollard Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Collegedale Memorial Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Tallant Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Summit Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Chesnutt Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Summit Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Floral Hills Memorial Gardens
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Standifer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Boyd Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (644 more) ...
    • Crumley Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Plowman Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Sylar Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)

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 Ooltewah had a population of 233 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2010, Ooltewah had a population of 687 people.

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

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Ooltewah ...

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 Ooltewah.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Ooltewah. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Ooltewah and those printed in the larger area surrounding Ooltewah.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<3> of Ooltewah.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Ooltewah:

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 Ooltewah, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Ooltewah) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.