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 Rocky Springs (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 Rocky Springs. 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 Rocky Springs ...
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 Rocky Springs: Rocky Spgs. (or less commonly used: Rocky Spngs. or Rocky Sprngs.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Rocky Springs. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Rocky Springs.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Rocky Springs 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 Rocky Springs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rocky Springs:
- Sullivan County (The home county of Rocky Springs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Springs, with the one closest to Rocky Springs listed first.
- Thom ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Thom is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thom
- Colby ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Colby is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
- Sac ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sac is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sac
- Lella ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lella is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lella
- Piney Flats
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wahoo ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Wahoo is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahoo
- Bluff City
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Bluff City is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,672 people
- Former name for Bluff City:
- Zollicoffer
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bluff City <1>
- Childress
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Childress is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childress
- Galloway Mill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Galloway Mill is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galloway Mill
- Estimated population in 2014: 665 people
- Blountville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Colonial Heights
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Fordtown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Fordtown is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fordtown
- Carter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Springs, with the one closest to Rocky Springs listed first.
- Watauga
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Watauga is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watauga
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Biltmore
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Biltmore is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biltmore
- Central
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Central is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Pine Crest
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Pine Crest is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Crest
- Elizabethton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hunter
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hunter is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Siam
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Siam is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siam
- Gap Run
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gap Run is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gap Run
- Hampton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Woodby Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Woodby Hill is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodby Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,730 people
- Buladeen
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Buladeen is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladeen
- Former names for Buladeen:
- Colesville
- Magnetic
- Fish Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Fish Springs is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Springs
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Springs, with the one closest to Rocky Springs listed first.
- Milburnton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Milburnton is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milburnton
- Jearoldstown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Jearoldstown is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jearoldstown
- Centersville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Centersville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centersville
- Rheatown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Rheatown is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rheatown
- Horse Creek
(25 miles [40.2 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
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Baileyton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Henshaw ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 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
(28 miles [45.1 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
- Tusculum
(28 miles [45.1 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
- Bolton Estates
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bolton Estates is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton Estates
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,152 people
- Hawkins County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Springs, with the one closest to Rocky Springs listed first.
- Rotherwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rotherwood is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rotherwood
- Greenvale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Greenvale is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenvale
- Frisco
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Frisco is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Mount Carmel
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Solitude ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Solitude is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solitude
- Waycross
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Waycross is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waycross
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,091 people
- Block City
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Block City is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Block City
- Green Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Green Village is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Village
- Church Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Blossom
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Blossom is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blossom
- Chimneytop ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Chimneytop is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chimneytop
- New Canton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- New Canton is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Canton
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Springs, with the one closest to Rocky Springs listed first.
- Butler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- High Health ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- High Health is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Health
- Winchester
(24 miles [38.6 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
(27 miles [43.5 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
- Unicoi County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Springs, with the one closest to Rocky Springs listed first.
- Whispering Pines
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Whispering Pines is located in Unicoi County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Pines
- Unicoi
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Limestone Cove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Limestone Cove is located in Unicoi County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone Cove
- Erwin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bumpus Cove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Bumpus Cove is located in Unicoi County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpus Cove
- Estimated population in 2014: 729 people
- Banner Hill
(22 miles [35.4 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
(24 miles [38.6 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 south)
- Ernestville is located in Unicoi County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ernestville
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,311 people
- Clear Branch
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Clear Branch is located in Unicoi County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Branch
- Former name for Clear Branch:
- Kittyton
- Loganton ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Loganton is located in Unicoi County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganton
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Springs, with the one closest to Rocky Springs listed first.
- Oak Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Flourville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Flourville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flourville
- Spurgeon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Spurgeon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurgeon
- Population from the 2010 Census: 3,957 people
- Austin Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Austin Village is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Village
- Oakland Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Oakland Village is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Village
- Gray
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Camelot Two
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Camelot Two is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camelot Two
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,582 people
- North Johnson City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- North Johnson City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Johnson City
- Carnegie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Carnegie is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnegie
- Johnson City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Johnson City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67,142 people
- Former names for Johnson City:
- Blue Plum Station
- Haynesville
- Johnsons Depot
- Johnsons Tank
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Johnson City <1>
- East Ridge
(9 miles [14.5 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
- Midway
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Midway is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Avery County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Springs, with the one closest to Rocky Springs listed first.
- Mount Gilead
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Gilead is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gilead
- Whaley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Whaley is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
- Elk Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mitchell County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Springs, with the one closest to Rocky Springs listed first.
- Richlands
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Richlands is located in Mitchell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
- Buladean
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Buladean is located in Mitchell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladean
- Bailey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Bailey is located in Mitchell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
- Herrell ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Herrell is located in Mitchell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
- Relief
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Relief is located in Mitchell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Relief
- Huntdale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Huntdale is located in Mitchell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntdale
- Tipton Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Tipton Hill is located in Mitchell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton Hill
- Little Rock Creek ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Little Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Creek
- Red Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Red Hill is located in Mitchell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Yancey County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Springs, with the one closest to Rocky Springs listed first.
- Sioux
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Sioux is located in Yancey County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux
- Ramseytown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Ramseytown is located in Yancey County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramseytown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rocky Springs, see our County-by-County Page for Rocky Springs.
Cemeteries Near Rocky Springs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rocky Springs.
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 Rocky Springs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rocky Springs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rocky Springs, with the one closest to Rocky Springs listed first.
- Goodman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Sanders Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Friday Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Boring Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Allison / Boring / Hodges Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hodges Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cross Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Smith Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Muddy Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hamilton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Africa Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Snyder Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (896 more) ...
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Friday Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- White Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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>
While we didn't find Rocky Springs in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rocky Springs.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rocky Springs, with the one closest to Rocky Springs listed first.
- Hilton ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Hilton is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton
- Thom ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Thom is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thom
- Boring
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Boring is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boring
- Colby ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Colby is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
- Flourville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Flourville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flourville
- Austin Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Austin Springs is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Springs
- Lawson ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Lawson is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawson
- Sac ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sac is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sac
- Piney Flats
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lella ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lella is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lella
- Wahoo ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Wahoo is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahoo
- Childress
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Childress is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childress
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Bluff City
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Bluff City is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,672 people
- Former name for Bluff City:
- Zollicoffer
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bluff City <1>
- Sumpter ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sumpter is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumpter
- Samuel ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Samuel is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samuel
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rocky Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rocky Springs.
Newspapers Published in Rocky Springs ...
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 Rocky Springs.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rocky Springs, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rocky Springs.
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 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 Rocky Springs:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Sullivan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carter County
- Greene County
- Hawkins County
- Johnson County
- Unicoi County
- Washington County
- Avery County
- Mitchell County
- Yancey 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 Rocky Springs, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Rocky Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |