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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 Spurgeon (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 Spurgeon. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.

Spurgeon is primarily located in Washington County. A portion of Spurgeon extends into Sullivan 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 Washington County: Carter, Greene, Hawkins, Sullivan & Unicoi.

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

  • Washington County     (The home county of Spurgeon)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spurgeon, with the one closest to Spurgeon listed first.
    • Gray
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Oak Grove
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Oak Grove is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Flourville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Wheelocktown ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Harmony
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Austin Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Austin Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Village
    • North Johnson City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • North Johnson City is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Johnson City
    • Camelot Two
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Camelot Two is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camelot Two
      • Estimated population in 2014: 3,582 people
    • Johnson City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Oakland Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Oakland Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Village
    • Carnegie
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Carnegie is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnegie
    • Fall Branch
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Carter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spurgeon, with the one closest to Spurgeon listed first.
    • Watauga
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Central
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Central is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
    • Pine Crest
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Pine Crest is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Crest
    • Biltmore
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Elizabethton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Hunter
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Hunter is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
    • Siam
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Gap Run
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Hampton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodby Hill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodby Hill is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodby Hill
      • Estimated population in 2014: 2,730 people
    • Tolley Town
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Tolley Town is located in Carter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolley Town
    • Fish Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spurgeon, with the one closest to Spurgeon listed first.
    • Milburnton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Jearoldstown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Centersville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Rheatown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairview
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairview is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Horse Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Horse Creek is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Creek
      • Estimated population in 2014: 284 people
    • Baileyton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Afton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Pleasant View
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Pleasant View is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
      • Estimated population in 2014: 4,251 people
    • Tusculum
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Tusculum is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tusculum
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,669 people
    • Bolton Estates
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bolton Estates is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton Estates
      • Estimated population in 2014: 5,152 people
    • Henshaw ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Henshaw is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henshaw
      • Estimated population in 2014: 470 people
  • Hawkins County
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spurgeon, with the one closest to Spurgeon listed first.
    • Butler
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • High Health ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • High Health is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Health
    • Winchester
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Winchester is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
      • Estimated population in 2014: 8,547 people
  • Sullivan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spurgeon, with the one closest to Spurgeon listed first.
    • Wahoo ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Wahoo is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahoo
    • Fordtown
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Colby ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Colby is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
    • Kendrick Creek ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Colonial Heights
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Thom ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Thom is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thom
    • Sac ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Sac is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sac
    • Beechwood Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Beechwood Village is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood Village
    • Orebank
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Borden Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Borden Village is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Village
    • Horace ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Horace is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horace
    • Kingsport
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Unicoi County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spurgeon, with the one closest to Spurgeon listed first.
    • Whispering Pines
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Unicoi
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Bumpus Cove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Bumpus Cove is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpus Cove
      • Estimated population in 2014: 729 people
    • Erwin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Limestone Cove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Banner Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Banner Hill is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banner Hill
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,497 people
    • Indian Creek ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Indian Creek is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
    • Ernestville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Ernestville is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ernestville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,311 people
    • Clear Branch
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Loganton ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Loganton is located in Unicoi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganton
    • Flag Pond
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Mitchell County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spurgeon, with the one closest to Spurgeon listed first.
    • Richlands
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Richlands is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
    • Bailey
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Bailey is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
    • Buladean
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Huntdale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Relief
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Tipton Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Herrell ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Herrell is located in Mitchell County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
  • Yancey County (NC)

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

Cemeteries Near Spurgeon ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Spurgeon.

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

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

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

  • Gray Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Ford Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Liberty Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Gray Community Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Gray Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Wine Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Weems Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Hale Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Africa Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Ford Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Hale Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (905 more) ...
    • Martin Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Hale Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Weyland Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)

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.<2>

While we didn't find Spurgeon in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Spurgeon.

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

  • Boring
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Boring is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boring
  • Wahoo ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Wahoo is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahoo
  • Fordtown
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Hilton ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hilton is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton
  • Colby ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Colby is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
  • Samuel ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Samuel is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samuel
  • Kendrick Creek ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Flourville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Hemlock
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Hemlock is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemlock
  • Keebler Crossroads
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Keebler Crossroads is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keebler Crossroads
  • Thom ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Thom is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thom
  • Lawson ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lawson is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawson
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Slaughter ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Slaughter is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughter
    • Meadowbrook
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Meadowbrook is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
    • Harmony
      (6 miles [9.7 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 Spurgeon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Spurgeon.

Newspapers Published in Spurgeon ...

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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Spurgeon.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Spurgeon, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Spurgeon.

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 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 Spurgeon:

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