RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Tennessee >> Lake County >> Ridgely >> 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 Ridgely (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 Ridgely. 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 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.

Ridgely is located in Lake 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 Lake County: Fulton (KY), New Madrid (MO), Pemiscot (MO), Dyer & Obion.

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

  • Lake County     (The home county of Ridgely)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgely, with the one closest to Ridgely listed first.
    • Owl City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Owl City is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owl City
    • Sunkist Beach
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Sunkist Beach is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunkist Beach
      • Estimated population in 2014: 547 people
    • Tiptonville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Proctor City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Proctor City is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor City
    • Powells Ferry
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Powells Ferry is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powells Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,319 people
    • New Markham
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • New Markham is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Markham
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,354 people
  • Crockett County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgely, with the one closest to Ridgely listed first.
    • Elizabeth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Elizabeth is located in Crockett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elizabeth
      • Estimated population in 2014: 14,271 people
    • Friendship
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Chestnut Bluff
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Dyer County
  • Gibson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgely, with the one closest to Ridgely listed first.
    • Tilghman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Yorkville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Yorkville is located in Gibson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
    • Rutherford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Dyer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Lauderdale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgely, with the one closest to Ridgely listed first.
    • Halls
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Edith
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Gates
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Obion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgely, with the one closest to Ridgely listed first.
    • Samburg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Hornbeak
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Obion
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Obion is located in Obion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obion
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,043 people
    • Troy
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Troy is located in Obion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,328 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Troy <1>
    • Englewood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Englewood is located in Obion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englewood
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,532 people
    • Rives
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Woodland Mills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodland Mills is located in Obion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Mills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
    • Kenton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Union City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Mississippi County (AR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgely, with the one closest to Ridgely listed first.
    • Armorel
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Armorel is located in Mississippi County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armorel
    • Barfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Fulton County (KY)
  • Dunklin County (MO)
  • New Madrid County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgely, with the one closest to Ridgely listed first.
    • Point Pleasant
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Portageville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Conran
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Conran is located in New Madrid County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conran
    • Marston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Marston is located in New Madrid County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 441 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Marston <1>
    • Howardville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Howardville is located in New Madrid County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howardville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
    • New Madrid
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Lilbourn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • North Lilbourn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • North Lilbourn is located in New Madrid County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lilbourn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
    • Tallapoosa
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Tallapoosa is located in New Madrid County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallapoosa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
    • Catron
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Catron is located in New Madrid County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
    • Gideon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Gideon is located in New Madrid County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gideon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 952 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gideon <1>
    • Risco
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Risco is located in New Madrid County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Risco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Risco <1>
    • Kewanee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Pemiscot County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgely, with the one closest to Ridgely listed first.
    • Stewart
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Caruthersville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hayward
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Hayward is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayward
    • Hayti
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Netherlands
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Hayti Heights
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Hayti Heights is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayti Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
    • Homestown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Homestown is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homestown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
    • North Wardell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • North Wardell is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wardell
    • Pascola
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Pascola is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pascola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
    • Wardell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Wardell is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wardell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 354 people
    • Braggadocio
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Braggadocio is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braggadocio
    • Deering
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Deering is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deering
    • Bragg City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Bragg City is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people

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

Cemeteries Near Ridgely ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ridgely.

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

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

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

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 in 1895, Ridgely had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Ridgely had a population of 1,604 people.

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

  • Kennedy
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Kennedy is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennedy
  • Tiptonville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Tennemo
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Tennemo is located in Dyer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennemo
  • Lane
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Lane is located in Dyer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lane
  • Elbridge
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Elbridge is located in Obion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbridge
  • Hathaway
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Hathaway is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hathaway
  • Samburg
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Stewart
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Caruthersville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Hornbeak
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Boothspoint
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Glass
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Glass is located in Obion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Gayoso
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Gayoso is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayoso
    • Point Pleasant
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Hayward
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Hayward is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayward

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Ridgely ...

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 47 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ridgely.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Ridgely. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Ridgely and those printed in the larger area surrounding Ridgely.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 18 miles [29 km]<2> of Ridgely.

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 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 Ridgely:

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 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Ridgely) 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 Ridgely, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.