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 Spring (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 Spring. 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 Spring ...
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.
- A typical abbreviation for Sims Spring: Sims Spg. (or less commonly used: Sims Spng. or Sims Sprng.)
- While the name of this community is Sims Spring, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Sims Spring may originally have been Sim's Spring.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Sims Spring might be written as Sim Spring.
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Sims Spring is located in Bedford 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 Bedford County: Coffee, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore & Rutherford.
Below are the counties that are near Sims Spring. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sims Spring:
- Bedford County (The home county of Sims Spring)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Spring, with the one closest to Sims Spring listed first.
- Palmetto
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Palmetto is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
- Estimated population in 2014: 661 people
- Whitaker
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Whitaker is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitaker
- Anchor Mill ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Anchor Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchor Mill
- Unionville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Shelbyville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Longview
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Longview is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview
- Vannatta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Vannatta is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vannatta
- Estimated population in 2014: 398 people
- Bell Buckle
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Wartrace
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Haley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Haley is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haley
- Raus
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Raus is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raus
- Cortner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Cortner is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cortner
- Cannon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Spring, with the one closest to Sims Spring listed first.
- Bradyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bradyville is located in Cannon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradyville
- Hollow Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hollow Springs is located in Cannon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollow Springs
- Estimated population in 2014: 706 people
- Coffee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Spring, with the one closest to Sims Spring listed first.
- Beechgrove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Homaway Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Homaway Village is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homaway Village
- Gossburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Gossburg is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gossburg
- Tullahoma
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Busy Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Busy Corner is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busy Corner
- Southgate Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Southgate Park is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southgate Park
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,284 people
- Belmont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Belmont is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Manchester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Royal Oaks
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Royal Oaks is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Oaks
- Teal ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Teal is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teal
- New Union
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- New Union is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Union
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,431 people
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Spring, with the one closest to Sims Spring listed first.
- Garner Ford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Garner Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 309 people
- Lexie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lexie is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexie
- Winchester Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Winchester Springs is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester Springs
- Giles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Spring, with the one closest to Sims Spring listed first.
- Trigg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Trigg is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trigg
- Estimated population in 2014: 851 people
- Lynnville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Frankewing
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bradshaw ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bradshaw is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradshaw
- Bufords
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bufords is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bufords
- Olivet
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Olivet is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,350 people
- Pisgah
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pisgah is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Powell Chapel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Powell Chapel is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell Chapel
- Aymett Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Aymett Town is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aymett Town
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Spring, with the one closest to Sims Spring listed first.
- Petersburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Belleville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Belleville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
- Booneville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Booneville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booneville
- Boonshill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Boonshill is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boonshill
- Hughey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Hughey is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hughey
- Elk Mill Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Elk Mill Village is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Mill Village
- Fayetteville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Harms
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Harms is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harms
- Gattistown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gattistown is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gattistown
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,158 people
- Clarks Ferry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Clarks Ferry is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 387 people
- Pearl City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Pearl City is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
- Molino
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Molino is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Molino
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Spring, with the one closest to Sims Spring listed first.
- Oak Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Hill is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Belfast
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Belfast is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfast
- Anes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Anes is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anes
- Orrs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Orrs is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrs
- Estimated population in 2014: 123 people
- Verona
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Verona is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona
- Chapel Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Caney Spring
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Caney Spring is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney Spring
- Lewisburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Talley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Talley is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talley
- Berlin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Berlin is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Cochran
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cochran is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochran
- South Berlin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- South Berlin is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Berlin
- Maury County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Spring, with the one closest to Sims Spring listed first.
- Leftwich
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Leftwich is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leftwich
- Philadelphia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Philadelphia is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Estimated population in 2014: 683 people
- Scribner
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Scribner is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scribner
- Culleoka
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- New Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- New Town is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Columbia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Carters Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Carters Creek is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carters Creek
- Graymere Manor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Graymere Manor is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graymere Manor
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,222 people
- Jameson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Jameson is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jameson
- Broadview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Broadview is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadview
- Southport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Southport is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southport
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,110 people
- Ben ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Ben is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ben
- Moore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Spring, with the one closest to Sims Spring listed first.
- Countyline
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Countyline is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countyline
- Lynchburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgeville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgeville is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
- Rutherford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Spring, with the one closest to Sims Spring listed first.
- Midland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Midland is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
- Concord
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Eagleville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Allisona
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Allisona is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allisona
- Plainview
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Plainview is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainview
- Patterson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Patterson is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Rucker
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rucker is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rucker
- Snell ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Snell is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snell
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,361 people
- Burns Place
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Burns Place is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns Place
- Dillton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dillton is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillton
- Murfreesboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kittrell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kittrell is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kittrell
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sims Spring, with the one closest to Sims Spring listed first.
- College Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Duplex
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Duplex is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duplex
- Harpeth
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Harpeth is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harpeth
- Peytonsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Peytonsville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peytonsville
- Spring Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Arrington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Thompson's Station
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Thompson's Station is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson's Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,973 people
- Former name for Thompson's Station:
- Littlebury
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Thompson's Station <2>
- Wilkes ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wilkes is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkes
- Clovercroft
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Clovercroft is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clovercroft
- Burwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Burwood is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burwood
- Parry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Parry is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parry
- Estimated population in 2014: 262 people
- Nolensville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sims Spring, see our County-by-County Page for Sims Spring.
Cemeteries Near Sims Spring ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sims Spring.
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 Spring - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sims Spring covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sims Spring, with the one closest to Sims Spring listed first.
- Haskins Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Wheel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Gaunt Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Pisgah Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Stephenson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Story Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mt. Lebanon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Harrison Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Molder Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Jones Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lucas Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Card Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Continue List (1987 more) ...
- Harms Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Darnell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
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 Sims Spring in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sims Spring.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sims Spring, with the one closest to Sims Spring listed first.
- Wheel
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Wheel is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheel
- Palmetto
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Palmetto is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
- Estimated population in 2014: 661 people
- Bedford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bedford is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford
- Fall Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Fall Creek is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- Poplins Crossroads
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Poplins Crossroads is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplins Crossroads
- Farmington
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Farmington is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
- Rich Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rich Creek is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Creek
- Belfast
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Belfast is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfast
- Pleasant Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- Unionville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Branchville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Branchville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branchville
- Verona
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Verona is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Shelbyville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Chapel Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lewisburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sims Spring. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sims Spring.
Newspapers Published in Sims Spring ...
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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sims Spring.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sims Spring, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sims Spring.
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 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 Sims Spring:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Bedford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cannon County
- Coffee County
- Franklin County
- Giles County
- Lincoln County
- Marshall County
- Maury County
- Moore County
- Rutherford County
- Williamson 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> | 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 Sims Spring, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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 from Point A (ie- Sims Spring) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |