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 Waynesboro (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 Waynesboro. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
Waynesboro is located in Wayne County and is the County Seat.
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 Wayne County: Lauderdale (AL), Decatur, Hardin, Lawrence, Lewis & Perry.
Below are the counties that are near Waynesboro. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Waynesboro:
- Wayne County (The home county of Waynesboro)
- The following are listed by their distance from Waynesboro, with the one closest to Waynesboro listed first.
- Slickrock Ford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 179 people
- Sorby ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Sorby is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sorby
- Ashland Ford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ashland Ford is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,674 people
- Collinwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Collinwood is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collinwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 932 people
- Clifton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Lutts
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
- Corning ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Corning is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,210 people
- Cypress Inn
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waynesboro, with the one closest to Waynesboro listed first.
- Mount Lebanon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Lebanon is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lebanon
- Estimated population in 2014: 29,387 people
- Dunbar
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Dunbar is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Pleasant Hill
(25 miles [40.2 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
- Decaturville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Parsons
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Scotts Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waynesboro, with the one closest to Waynesboro listed first.
- Johnson Ford
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- 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
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Smiths Fork is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Fork
- Swift
(22 miles [35.4 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
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Centerview is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerview
- Estimated population in 2014: 244 people
- Lowryville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lowryville is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowryville
- Paulks ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Paulks is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paulks
- Saltillo
(26 miles [41.8 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
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Belle Meade is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Meade
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,017 people
- New Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- New Town is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Savannah
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bruton Branch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bruton Branch is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruton Branch
- Sibley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sibley is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
- Hickman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waynesboro, with the one closest to Waynesboro listed first.
- Pleasantville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Pleasantville is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
- Hornertown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hornertown is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornertown
- Estimated population in 2014: 412 people
- Aetna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Aetna is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aetna
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waynesboro, with the one closest to Waynesboro listed first.
- Westpoint
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Henryville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Henryville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henryville
- Park Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Park Grove is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Grove
- Flatwoods
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Flatwoods is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwoods
- Iron City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Lawrenceburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Busby
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Loretto
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Joseph
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ethridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Leoma
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Webber City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Webber City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webber City
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waynesboro, with the one closest to Waynesboro listed first.
- Voorhies
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Voorhies is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,476 people
- Hohenwald
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Kimmins
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Kimmins is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimmins
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waynesboro, with the one closest to Waynesboro listed first.
- Flatwoods
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Linden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Beardstown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Beardstown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beardstown
- Mousetail ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mousetail is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mousetail
- Lobelville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Lauderdale County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Waynesboro, with the one closest to Waynesboro listed first.
- Pruitton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Pruitton is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruitton
- Zip City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Zip City is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zip City
- Cloverdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Cloverdale is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Threet
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Threet is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Threet
- Green Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Green Hill is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Belew ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Belew is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belew
- Arnot
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Arnot is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnot
- Slabtown ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Slabtown is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slabtown
- Jacksonburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Jacksonburg is located in Lauderdale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonburg
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Waynesboro, see our County-by-County Page for Waynesboro.
Cemeteries Near Waynesboro ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Waynesboro.
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 Waynesboro - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Waynesboro covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Waynesboro, with the one closest to Waynesboro listed first.
- Old Town Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Greeson Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Kea Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Kelley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Black Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Choate Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Shields Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Morrow Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Wayne County Memorial Gardens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Keeton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Continue List (809 more) ...
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Copeland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hog Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Waynesboro had a population of 239 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Waynesboro had a population of 2,371 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Waynesboro, with the one closest to Waynesboro listed first.
- Sorby ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Sorby is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sorby
- Moon ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Moon is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moon
- Houston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Houston is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Victory ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Victory is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victory
- Voorhies
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Voorhies is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,476 people
- Nancy ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Nancy is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nancy
- Martins Mills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Martins Mills is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martins Mills
- Strathmore ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Strathmore is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strathmore
- Clifton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Lutts
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Olivehill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Olivehill is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivehill
- Weatherford ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Weatherford is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weatherford
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Pinkney
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pinkney is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinkney
- Horner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Horner is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horner
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Waynesboro. See our List of 1890's Communities around Waynesboro.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Waynesboro ...
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 Waynesboro.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Waynesboro. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Waynesboro and those printed in the larger area surrounding Waynesboro.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3> of Waynesboro.
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 Waynesboro:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Wayne County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Decatur County
- Hardin County
- Hickman County
- Lawrence County
- Lewis County
- Perry County
- Lauderdale 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> | 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 Waynesboro, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Waynesboro) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |