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 Salem (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 Salem. 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 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 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.
Salem is located in Henry 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 Henry County: Calloway (KY), Graves (KY), Benton, Carroll, Stewart & Weakley.
Below are the counties that are near Salem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Salem:
- Henry County (The home county of Salem)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Henry
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Haglerville ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Haglerville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haglerville
- New Boston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- New Boston is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Paris
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cottage Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Spring Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Spring Creek is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,009 people
- Whitlock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Whitlock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitlock
- India
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- India is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for India
- Oakland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Manleyville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Manleyville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manleyville
- Mandels ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mandels is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mandels
- Estimated population in 2014: 10,349 people
- Springville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Sandy Point
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sandy Point is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Point
- Big Sandy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Camden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Crossroads
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Crossroads is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,728 people
- Faxon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Faxon is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faxon
- Wildlife Cove Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brevards Ferry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Brevards Ferry is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevards Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 40,982 people
- Chaseville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Chaseville is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaseville
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- McKenzie
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hico
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hico is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hico
- Wingo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wingo is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingo
- Huntingdon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- McLemoresville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- McLemoresville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLemoresville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
- Trezevant
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hollow Rock
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bruceton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Concord
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Atwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Atwood is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 915 people
- Anark
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Anark is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anark
- Gibson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Whitway
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Whitway is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitway
- Bradford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Four Points
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Four Points is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Points
- Ledbetter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ledbetter is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledbetter
- Estimated population in 2014: 29,427 people
- Union Central
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Union Central is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Central
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,574 people
- Milan
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Concord
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Concord is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Graball
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Graball is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graball
- Population from the 2010 Census: 236 people
- Sitka
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sitka is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
- Gibson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gibson is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 384 people
- Goat City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Goat City is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goat City
- Dyer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- McHaney ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- McHaney is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McHaney
- Farmville ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Farmville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmville
- Parkers Crossroads
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Union Cross
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Union Cross is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cross
- Estimated population in 2014: 10,666 people
- Atkins ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Atkins is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
- Estimated population in 2014: 13,664 people
- Humphreys County
- New Johnsonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Madison County
- Spring Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Spring Creek is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Obion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- McConnell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- McConnell is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McConnell
- Kenton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Kenton is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,190 people
- Weakley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Tumbling
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Tumbling is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tumbling
- Gleason
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Ore Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ore Springs is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ore Springs
- Pillowville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pillowville is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pillowville
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,625 people
- Dresden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dunlap ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dunlap is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,068 people
- Greenfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sharon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ralston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ralston is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralston
- Latham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Latham is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latham
- Martin
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Sidonia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Sidonia is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidonia
- Calloway County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Hazel
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Protemus
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Protemus is located in Calloway County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Protemus
- Harris Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Harris Grove is located in Calloway County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Grove
- New Providence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- New Providence is located in Calloway County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
- Murray
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Murray is located in Calloway County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 19,437 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Murray <1>
- New Concord
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Graves County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Bell City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bell City is located in Graves County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell City
- Lynnville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lynnville is located in Graves County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
- Tri City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Tri City is located in Graves County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tri City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Salem, see our County-by-County Page for Salem.
Cemeteries Near Salem ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Salem.
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 Salem - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Salem covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Dinwiddie Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Old Salem Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Dinwiddie Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Covington - Wall Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Manley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Carter Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bowers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Fodge Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Jones Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Caldenoia Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Atkin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Caton Springs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Continue List (988 more) ...
- Henry Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Irby Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Allen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
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>
While we didn't find Salem in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Salem.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- McKenzie
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hico
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hico is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hico
- Como
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Como is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Como
- Haglerville ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Haglerville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haglerville
- Gleason
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mixie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Mixie is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixie
- Carnsville ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Carnsville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnsville
- Pillowville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pillowville is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pillowville
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,625 people
- Mansfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mansfield is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mansfield
- Christmasville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Christmasville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christmasville
- Paris
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Huntingdon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Rosser
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rosser is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosser
- Osage
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Osage is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
- Cottage Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Salem. See our List of 1890's Communities around Salem.
Newspapers Published in Salem ...
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 73 newspapers that have been published in the area around Salem.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Salem, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Salem.
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 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 Salem:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Henry County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Carroll County
- Gibson County
- Henderson County
- Humphreys County
- Madison County
- Obion County
- Weakley County
- Calloway County
- Graves 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> | 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 Salem, 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' (or 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- Salem) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |