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 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 primarily located in Lewis County. A portion of Salem extends into Hickman 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 Lewis County: Hickman, Lawrence, Maury, Perry & Wayne.
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:
- Lewis County (The home county of Salem)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Kimmins
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Kimmins is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimmins
- Hohenwald
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Voorhies
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Voorhies is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,476 people
- Dickson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Abiff
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Abiff is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abiff
- Tidwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Tidwell is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tidwell
- Water Valley ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Water Valley is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,516 people
- Spencers Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Spencers Mill is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencers Mill
- Pomona
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Pomona is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pomona
- Giles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Liberty Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
- Campbellsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Campbellsville is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbellsville
- Weakley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Weakley is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weakley
- Bufords
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bufords is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bufords
- Lynnville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hickman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Aetna
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Aetna is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aetna
- Swan Bluff
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Swan Bluff is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Bluff
- Hornertown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hornertown is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornertown
- Estimated population in 2014: 412 people
- Centerville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Graytown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Graytown is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graytown
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,528 people
- Duck River
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Duck River is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duck River
- Tottys Bend
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Tottys Bend is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tottys Bend
- Pleasantville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Pleasantville is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
- Littlelot
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Littlelot is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlelot
- Whitfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Whitfield is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- Nunnelly
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Nunnelly is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunnelly
- Graham
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Graham is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Humphreys County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Grandmother Ford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Grandmother Ford is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandmother Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 307 people
- Buffalo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Buffalo is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Bethpage
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bethpage is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethpage
- Population from the 2010 Census: 288 people
- Hurricane Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Henryville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Henryville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henryville
- Park Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Park Grove is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Grove
- Webber City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Webber City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webber City
- Flatwoods
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Flatwoods is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwoods
- Ethridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lawrenceburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- New Prospect
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Prospect is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Prospect
- Estimated population in 2014: 6,880 people
- Maury County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Hampshire
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Chapel Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Chapel Hill is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,461 people
- Greenfield Bend
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greenfield Bend is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield Bend
- Estimated population in 2014: 15,035 people
- Williamsport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Williamsport is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsport
- Chartersville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chartersville is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chartersville
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,494 people
- Arkland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Arkland is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkland
- Mount Pleasant
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Sawdust
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Sawdust is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawdust
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,053 people
- Jonesboro ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jonesboro is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesboro
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,238 people
- Armour Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Armour Village is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armour Village
- Frierson Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Frierson Town is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frierson Town
- Estimated population in 2014: 923 people
- Ashwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Ashwood is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashwood
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Lobelville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Beardstown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Beardstown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beardstown
- Linden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Flatwoods
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Ashland Ford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ashland Ford is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,674 people
- Slickrock Ford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 179 people
- Waynesboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Williamson County
- Burwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Burwood is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burwood
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.
- Douglas Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Salem Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Old Harder Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Rhodes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jimmy Cothran Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Harder Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Palestine Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Sisco Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Morris Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Mt. Sinai Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Johnson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (1086 more) ...
- Blann Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Langford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Whiteside Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
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>
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.
- Palestine ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Palestine is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palestine
- Aetna
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Aetna is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aetna
- Sunrise
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sunrise is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunrise
- Kimmins
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Kimmins is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimmins
- Hohenwald
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Newburg ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Newburg is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Swan Bluff
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Swan Bluff is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Bluff
- Deans
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Deans is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deans
- Hampshire
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Kettle Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kettle Mills is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettle Mills
- Centerville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Nancy ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nancy is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nancy
- Continue List (21 more) ...
- Voorhies
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Voorhies is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,476 people
- Napier
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Napier is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier
- Duck River
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Duck River is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duck River
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 21 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 15 miles [24.1 km]<2>. 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 turn to 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 Lewis County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dickson County
- Giles County
- Hickman County
- Humphreys County
- Lawrence County
- Maury County
- Perry County
- Wayne County
- Williamson 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> | 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'. |
| <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 Salem, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |