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 Ovilla (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 Ovilla. 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.
Ovilla is located in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County: Lauderdale (AL), Giles, Lewis, Maury & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Ovilla. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ovilla:
- Lawrence County (The home county of Ovilla)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ovilla, with the one closest to Ovilla listed first.
- Park Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Park Grove is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Grove
- Henryville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Henryville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henryville
- Flatwoods
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Flatwoods is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwoods
- Westpoint
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Lawrenceburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ethridge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Webber City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Webber City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webber City
- Leoma
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Busby
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Loretto
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Prospect
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- New Prospect is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Prospect
- Estimated population in 2014: 6,880 people
- Iron City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Giles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ovilla, with the one closest to Ovilla listed first.
- Liberty Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Liberty Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
- Weakley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Weakley is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weakley
- Bodenham
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bodenham is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodenham
- Campbellsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Campbellsville is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbellsville
- Wales
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Wales is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wales
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,031 people
- Anthony Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Anthony Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anthony Hill
- Minor Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Minor Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 533 people
- Bufords
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Bufords is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bufords
- Gordon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Gordon is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,192 people
- Green Field
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Green Field is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Field
- Olivet
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Olivet is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,350 people
- Pulaski
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ovilla, with the one closest to Ovilla listed first.
- Johnson Ford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Johnson Ford is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 65,813 people
- Smiths Fork ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Smiths Fork is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Fork
- Hickman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ovilla, with the one closest to Ovilla listed first.
- Aetna
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Aetna is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aetna
- Hornertown
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hornertown is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornertown
- Estimated population in 2014: 412 people
- Pleasantville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Pleasantville is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
- Swan Bluff
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Swan Bluff is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Bluff
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ovilla, with the one closest to Ovilla listed first.
- Voorhies
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Voorhies is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,476 people
- Hohenwald
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Kimmins
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Kimmins is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimmins
- Maury County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ovilla, with the one closest to Ovilla listed first.
- Screamer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Screamer is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screamer
- Enterprise
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Enterprise is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Hampshire
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jonesboro ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jonesboro is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesboro
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,238 people
- Frierson Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Frierson Town is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frierson Town
- Estimated population in 2014: 923 people
- Mount Pleasant
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Scotts Mill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Scotts Mill is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts Mill
- Estimated population in 2014: 983 people
- Broadview
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Broadview is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadview
- Chapel Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chapel Hill is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,461 people
- Southport
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Southport is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southport
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,110 people
- Ashwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ashwood is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashwood
- Greenfield Bend
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Greenfield Bend is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield Bend
- Estimated population in 2014: 15,035 people
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ovilla, with the one closest to Ovilla listed first.
- Flatwoods
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Linden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Beardstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Beardstown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beardstown
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ovilla, with the one closest to Ovilla listed first.
- Ashland Ford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ashland Ford is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,674 people
- Waynesboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Slickrock Ford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 179 people
- Collinwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Collinwood is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collinwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 932 people
- Corning ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Corning is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,210 people
- Sorby ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sorby is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sorby
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
- Lutts
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Clifton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Cypress Inn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Lauderdale County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ovilla, with the one closest to Ovilla listed first.
- Pruitton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Pruitton is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruitton
- Belew ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Belew is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belew
- Green Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Green Hill is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Slabtown ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Slabtown is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slabtown
- Arkdell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Arkdell is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkdell
- Zip City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Zip City is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zip City
- Lexington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Arnot
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Arnot is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnot
- Atlas ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Atlas is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Comer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Comer is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
- Cloverdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cloverdale is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Bailey Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ovilla, see our County-by-County Page for Ovilla.
Cemeteries Near Ovilla ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ovilla.
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 Ovilla - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ovilla covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ovilla, with the one closest to Ovilla listed first.
- Spann Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Gravel Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Highland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Staggs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fishtrap Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Unity Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Owl Hollow Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Long Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Factory Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Griggs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Cole Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Deerfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (877 more) ...
- Greenwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Brush Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Staggs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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>
While we didn't find Ovilla in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ovilla.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ovilla, with the one closest to Ovilla listed first.
- Strathmore ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Strathmore is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strathmore
- Moon ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Moon is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moon
- Voorhies
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Voorhies is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,476 people
- Napier
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Napier is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier
- Pinkney
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Pinkney is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinkney
- Knob Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Knob Creek is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob Creek
- Henryville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Henryville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henryville
- Waynesboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Nancy ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Nancy is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nancy
- Westpoint
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Lawrenceburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ethridge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Pleasant Point
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Point is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Point
- Brace
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Brace is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brace
- Busby
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ovilla. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ovilla.
Newspapers Published in Ovilla ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ovilla.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ovilla, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ovilla.
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 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 Ovilla:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Lawrence County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Giles County
- Hardin County
- Hickman County
- Lewis County
- Maury County
- Perry County
- Wayne County
- Lauderdale 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> | 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 Ovilla, 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' (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- Ovilla) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |