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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 Rocky Top (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 Top. 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 Top ...

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.

Over the years, Rocky Top had several name changes:

  • Prior to its current name of Rocky Top, it was known as Lake City.
  • Before changing to Lake City, it was named Coal Creek.
  • Rocky Top was originally named Coal Creek

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.

A Few Details for Rocky Top ...

While it's still very early in our research, we found that:

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 hospitals and 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.

Rocky Top is primarily located in Anderson County. A portion of Rocky Top extends into Campbell 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 Anderson County: Campbell, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott & Union.

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

  • Anderson County     (The home county of Rocky Top)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Top, with the one closest to Rocky Top listed first.
    • Fraterville
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Fraterville is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fraterville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 70,612 people
    • Norris
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Bethel
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Bethel is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
      • Estimated population in 2014: 719 people
    • Andersonville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Leinarts
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Clinton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Panther ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Panther is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
    • Peak
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Claxton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Fairview ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairview is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Spring Hill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Spring Hill is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 16,752 people
    • Robertsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Oliver Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Blount County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Top, with the one closest to Rocky Top listed first.
    • Louisville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Rockford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Rockford is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
    • Alcoa
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Alcoa is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcoa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,382 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alcoa <1>
  • Campbell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Top, with the one closest to Rocky Top listed first.
    • Pine Crest
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Pine Crest is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Crest
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 2,388 people
    • Hatmaker ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hatmaker is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatmaker
    • Jacksboro
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Caryville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Silica
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Silica is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silica
      • Estimated population in 2014: 105 people
    • Demory
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Shea
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • LaFollette
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Boy ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Boy is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boy
    • Forkvale ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Forkvale is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkvale
    • Girlton ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Girlton is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girlton
    • Fincastle
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Fincastle is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fincastle
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,618 people
    • Victory
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Claiborne County
  • Grainger County
  • Jefferson County
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Top, with the one closest to Rocky Top listed first.
    • Heiskell
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bayless ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Bayless is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayless
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,396 people
    • Copper Ridge
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Copper Ridge is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copper Ridge
      • Estimated population in 2014: 333 people
    • Powell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Halls
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Halls is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls
    • Karns
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Volunteer Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Volunteer Village is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volunteer Village
    • Dante
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Murphy Hills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Oak Grove Heights
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Oak Grove Heights is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove Heights
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 4,425 people
    • Fountain City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Fountain City is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain City
    • Cumberland Estates
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Cumberland Estates is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Estates
      • Estimated population in 2014: 304 people
    • Greenway
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Loudon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Top, with the one closest to Rocky Top listed first.
    • Vancouver ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Vancouver is located in Loudon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vancouver
    • White Wing Ferry
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • White Wing Ferry is located in Loudon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Wing Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2014: 4,550 people
    • Eaton Crossroads
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Lenoir City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Sharp Estates
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Sharp Estates is located in Loudon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharp Estates
      • Estimated population in 2014: 919 people
  • Morgan County
  • Roane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Top, with the one closest to Rocky Top listed first.
    • Kelley Town
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Kelley Town is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelley Town
    • Ethel ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Ethel is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ethel
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,049 people
    • Bear ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bear is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear
    • Dyllis
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Wheat ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Selkirk ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Selkirk is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selkirk
    • Kries
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bazel Town
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bazel Town is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bazel Town
    • Bradbury
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Cave Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Kingston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Laddie Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Laddie Village is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laddie Village
  • Scott County
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Top, with the one closest to Rocky Top listed first.
    • Loyston ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Gabe ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Gabe is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gabe
    • Paulette
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Warwicktown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Warwicktown is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwicktown
      • Estimated population in 2014: 658 people
    • Rhodelia ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rhodelia is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodelia
    • Long Hollow ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lost Creek ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Lost Creek is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
    • Loo ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Loo is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loo
    • Maynardville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Phebe ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Phebe is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phebe
    • Plainview
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Braden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Luttrell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
  • Bell County (KY)
  • Whitley County (KY)

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

Cemeteries Near Rocky Top ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rocky Top.

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

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

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

  • Wiley Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Longfield Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Pine Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Mountain View Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • McGhee Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Disney Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Leach Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Disney Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Queener Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Disney Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Foust Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (1216 more) ...
    • Moore Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Island Ford Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Hawkins Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)

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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Rocky Top had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Rocky Top had a population of 1,776 people.

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

  • Lindsay Mill
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Lindsay Mill is located in Campbell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindsay Mill
  • Briceville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Briceville is located in Anderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briceville
  • Offutt
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Offutt is located in Anderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Offutt
  • Hinds Creek ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hinds Creek is located in Anderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinds Creek
  • Andersonville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Hatmaker ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hatmaker is located in Campbell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatmaker
  • Whitman ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Whitman is located in Campbell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitman
  • Jacksboro
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Clinton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Caryville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Custer ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Custer is located in Anderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer
  • Laurel
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Laurel is located in Anderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Panther ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Panther is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
    • Duke ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Duke is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duke
    • Agee ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Agee is located in Campbell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agee

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Rocky Top ...

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 Top.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Rocky Top. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Rocky Top and those printed in the larger area surrounding Rocky Top.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4> of Rocky Top.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Rocky Top:

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>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.
<3>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 Top, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Rocky Top) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.