RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Tennessee >> Sullivan County >> Piney Flats >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Piney Flats (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 Piney Flats. 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.

Name Variations for Piney Flats ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Piney Flats: Piney Flts.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 and hospitals 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.

Piney Flats is located in Sullivan 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 Sullivan County: Carter, Hawkins, Johnson, Washington, Bristol City (VA), Scott (VA) & Washington (VA).

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

  • Sullivan County     (The home county of Piney Flats)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Piney Flats, with the one closest to Piney Flats listed first.
    • Childress
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Lella ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Lella is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lella
    • Bluff City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Galloway Mill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Galloway Mill is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galloway Mill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 665 people
    • Thom ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Thom is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thom
    • Blountville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Cedar Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Colby ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Colby is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
    • Sac ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Sac is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sac
    • Wahoo ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Wahoo is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahoo
    • Akard Addition
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Cross
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Beechnut City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Beechnut City is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechnut City
  • Carter County
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Piney Flats, with the one closest to Piney Flats listed first.
    • Milburnton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Centersville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jearoldstown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Rheatown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Horse Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Horse Creek is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Creek
      • Estimated population in 2014: 284 people
    • Afton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairview
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairview is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Tusculum
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Tusculum is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tusculum
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,669 people
    • Henshaw ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Henshaw is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henshaw
      • Estimated population in 2014: 470 people
    • Pleasant View
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Pleasant View is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
      • Estimated population in 2014: 4,251 people
    • Baileyton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Hawkins County
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Piney Flats, with the one closest to Piney Flats listed first.
    • Butler
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • High Health ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • High Health is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Health
    • Winchester
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Winchester is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
      • Estimated population in 2014: 8,547 people
    • Norris
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Norris is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,652 people
    • Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
    • Fuller
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Mountain City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Shingletown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Unicoi County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Piney Flats, with the one closest to Piney Flats listed first.
    • Whispering Pines
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Unicoi
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Limestone Cove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Erwin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Bumpus Cove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bumpus Cove is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpus Cove
      • Estimated population in 2014: 729 people
    • Banner Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Banner Hill is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banner Hill
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,497 people
    • Indian Creek ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Indian Creek is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
    • Ernestville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Ernestville is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ernestville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,311 people
    • Clear Branch
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Loganton ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Loganton is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganton
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Piney Flats, with the one closest to Piney Flats listed first.
    • Austin Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Austin Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Village
    • Oakland Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Oakland Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Village
    • Flourville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Carnegie
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Carnegie is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnegie
    • North Johnson City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • North Johnson City is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Johnson City
    • Oak Grove
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Oak Grove is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • East Ridge
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • East Ridge is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Ridge
      • Estimated population in 2014: 21,317 people
    • Camelot Two
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Camelot Two is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camelot Two
      • Estimated population in 2014: 3,582 people
    • Johnson City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • South Gate Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • South Gate Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gate Village
    • Spurgeon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Gray
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Midway
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Midway is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
  • Avery County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Piney Flats, with the one closest to Piney Flats listed first.
    • Mount Gilead
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Mount Gilead is located in Avery County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gilead
    • Whaley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Elk Park
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Beech Mountain
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Minneapolis
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Minneapolis is located in Avery County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minneapolis
    • Banner Elk
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Vale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Vale is located in Avery County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vale
    • Chestnut Dale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Mitchell County (NC)
  • Watauga County (NC)
  • Yancey County (NC)

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

Cemeteries Near Piney Flats ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Piney Flats.

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 Piney Flats - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Carr Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Rumbley Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Curtis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Kidwell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Adkinson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Calbaugh Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Shell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Hodge Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Dempsey Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Bare Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Peregoy Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • McLaney Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Continue List   (926 more) ...
    • Arrants Cemetery
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Massengill Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Hodge Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Piney Flats had a population of 172 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Childress
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Austin Springs
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Austin Springs is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Springs
  • Watauga
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Lella ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Lella is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lella
  • Keenburg
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Keenburg is located in Carter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keenburg
  • Bluff City
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Flourville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Sumpter ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Sumpter is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumpter
  • Thom ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Thom is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thom
  • Hilton ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Hilton is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton
  • Carnegie
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Carnegie is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnegie
  • Boring
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Boring is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boring
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Piney Flats ...

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 Piney Flats.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Piney Flats, there are papers which were published within 7 miles [11.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Piney Flats.

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 Piney Flats:

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 Piney Flats, 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- Piney Flats) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.