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 Sims Ford (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 Sims Ford. 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 Sims Ford ...
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.
While the name of this community is Sims Ford, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Sims Ford may originally have been Sim's Ford.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Sims Ford might be written as Sim Ford.
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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Sims Ford is located in Hardin 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 Hardin County: Lauderdale (AL), Tishomingo (MS), Chester, Decatur, Henderson, McNairy & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Sims Ford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sims Ford:
- Hardin County (The home county of Sims Ford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Ford, with the one closest to Sims Ford listed first.
- Johnson Ford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Johnson Ford is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 65,813 people
- Smiths Fork ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Smiths Fork is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Fork
- Swift
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Swift is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,874 people
- Centerview
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Centerview is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerview
- Estimated population in 2014: 244 people
- Paulks ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Paulks is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paulks
- Saltillo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Saltillo is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saltillo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 521 people
- Belle Meade
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Belle Meade is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Meade
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,017 people
- New Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- New Town is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Sibley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Sibley is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
- Savannah
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lowryville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Lowryville is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowryville
- Crump
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Chester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Ford, with the one closest to Sims Ford listed first.
- Milledgeville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Milledgeville is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milledgeville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 267 people
- Enville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Enville is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Sweet Lips
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Sweet Lips is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Lips
- Jacks Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Ford, with the one closest to Sims Ford listed first.
- Dunbar
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dunbar is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Pleasant Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 566 people
- Mount Lebanon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Mount Lebanon is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lebanon
- Estimated population in 2014: 29,387 people
- Scotts Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Decaturville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Parsons
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Sulphur Springs ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Jeannette
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Jeannette is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeannette
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Ford, with the one closest to Sims Ford listed first.
- Cedar Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Grove is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Sardis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Reagan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Darden
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Darden is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darden
- Population from the 2010 Census: 399 people
- Chesterfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Chesterfield is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
- Population from the 2010 Census: 469 people
- Rhodes Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rhodes Town is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes Town
- Middle Fork
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Middle Fork is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Fork
- Lexington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hickman County
- Pleasantville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasantville is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
- Lewis County
- Voorhies
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Voorhies is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,476 people
- McNairy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Ford, with the one closest to Sims Ford listed first.
- Adamsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Leapwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Leapwood is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leapwood
- Stantonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Stantonville is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stantonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Tulu
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tulu is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulu
- Estimated population in 2014: 18,899 people
- Purdy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Purdy is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdy
- Michie
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Ford, with the one closest to Sims Ford listed first.
- Flatwoods
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Linden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mousetail ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Mousetail is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mousetail
- Beardstown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Beardstown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beardstown
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Ford, with the one closest to Sims Ford listed first.
- Clifton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sorby ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sorby is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sorby
- Lutts
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Waynesboro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Slickrock Ford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 179 people
- Collinwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Collinwood is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collinwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 932 people
- Ashland Ford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Ashland Ford is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,674 people
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
- Cypress Inn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Corning ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Corning is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,210 people
- Colbert County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Ford, with the one closest to Sims Ford listed first.
- Crows Camp ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Crows Camp is located in Colbert County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crows Camp
- Chickasaw ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Chickasaw is located in Colbert County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chickasaw
- Riverton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Riverton is located in Colbert County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverton
- Lauderdale County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Ford, with the one closest to Sims Ford listed first.
- Haddock ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Haddock is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddock
- Waterloo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Threet
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Threet is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Threet
- Tishomingo County (MS)
- Short
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Short is located in Tishomingo County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sims Ford, see our County-by-County Page for Sims Ford.
Cemeteries Near Sims Ford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sims Ford.
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 Sims Ford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sims Ford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sims Ford, with the one closest to Sims Ford listed first.
- Davis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Davis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hardin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bowling Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Beckham Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Old Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Brashier Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Dillon Farm Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hardin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Dick Hardin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Garrard Spring Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bailey Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Continue List (829 more) ...
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Watson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
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 Sims Ford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sims Ford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sims Ford, with the one closest to Sims Ford listed first.
- Olivehill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Olivehill is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivehill
- Clifton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Smiths Fork ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Smiths Fork is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Fork
- Swift
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Swift is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,874 people
- Cerro Gordo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Cerro Gordo is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cerro Gordo
- Bath Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Paulks ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Paulks is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paulks
- Houston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Houston is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Sorby ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sorby is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sorby
- Point Pleasant
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Point Pleasant is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point Pleasant
- Saltillo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Saltillo is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saltillo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 521 people
- Economy ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Economy is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Economy
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Martins Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Martins Mills is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martins Mills
- Dunbar
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dunbar is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Thurman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Thurman is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thurman
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sims Ford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sims Ford.
Newspapers Published in Sims Ford ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sims Ford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sims Ford, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sims Ford.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Sims Ford:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Hardin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chester County
- Decatur County
- Henderson County
- Hickman County
- Lewis County
- McNairy County
- Perry County
- Wayne County
- Colbert County
- Lauderdale County
- Tishomingo County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Tennessee
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Sims Ford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Sims Ford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |