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 West Union (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 West Union. 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 West Union ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Union: W. Union
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Union. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Union.
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 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.
West Union is located in Weakley 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 Weakley County: Graves (KY), Carroll, Gibson, Henry & Obion.
Below are the counties that are near West Union. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Union:
- Weakley County (The home county of West Union)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Union, with the one closest to West Union listed first.
- Dresden
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ore Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ore Springs is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ore Springs
- Dunlap ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dunlap is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,068 people
- Gleason
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Tumbling
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tumbling is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tumbling
- Ralston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ralston is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralston
- Latham
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Latham is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latham
- Pillowville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Pillowville is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pillowville
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,625 people
- Sharon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Martin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Greenfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sidonia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Sidonia is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidonia
- Terrell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Terrell is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrell
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Union, with the one closest to West Union listed first.
- McKenzie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wingo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Wingo is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingo
- Hico
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hico is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hico
- Trezevant
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Atwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Atwood is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 915 people
- McLemoresville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- McLemoresville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLemoresville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
- Huntingdon
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Whitthorne
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Whitthorne is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitthorne
- Hollow Rock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bruceton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Concord
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Concord is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Anark
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Anark is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anark
- Dyer County
- Trimble
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Trimble is located in Dyer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Population from the 2020 Census: 602 people
- Gibson County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Union, with the one closest to West Union listed first.
- Bradford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Four Points
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Four Points is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Points
- Whitway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Whitway is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitway
- Rutherford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Union Central
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Union Central is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Central
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,574 people
- Concord
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Concord is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Dyer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ledbetter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ledbetter is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledbetter
- Estimated population in 2014: 29,427 people
- Milan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Tilghman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Tilghman is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilghman
- Trenton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Graball
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Graball is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graball
- Population from the 2010 Census: 236 people
- Yorkville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Yorkville is located in Gibson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Union, with the one closest to West Union listed first.
- New Boston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- New Boston is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Cottage Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Henry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Whitlock
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Whitlock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitlock
- Paris
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Mandels ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Mandels is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mandels
- Estimated population in 2014: 10,349 people
- Haglerville ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Haglerville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haglerville
- Puryear
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Puryear is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puryear
- Population from the 2020 Census: 653 people
- India
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- India is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for India
- Conyersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Conyersville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conyersville
- Oakland
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Oakland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Spring Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Spring Creek is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,009 people
- Manleyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Manleyville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manleyville
- Obion County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Union, with the one closest to West Union listed first.
- McConnell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- McConnell is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McConnell
- Pierce Station
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pierce Station is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce Station
- South Fulton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kenton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Kenton is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,190 people
- Rives
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Rives is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rives
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Union City
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Woodland Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Woodland Mills is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Mills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Englewood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Englewood is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englewood
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,532 people
- Troy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Obion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Obion is located in Obion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,043 people
- Calloway County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Union, with the one closest to West Union listed first.
- Protemus
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Protemus is located in Calloway County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Protemus
- Harris Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Harris Grove is located in Calloway County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Grove
- Hazel
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Murray
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Murray is located in Calloway County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 19,437 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Murray <1>
- New Providence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- New Providence is located in Calloway County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
- Fulton County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Union, with the one closest to West Union listed first.
- Fulton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Jordan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jordan is located in Fulton County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Cayce
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cayce is located in Fulton County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayce
- Graves County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Union, with the one closest to West Union listed first.
- Bell City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Bell City is located in Graves County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell City
- Lynnville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Lynnville is located in Graves County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
- Water Valley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Tri City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Tri City is located in Graves County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tri City
- Sedalia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wingo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Farmington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Farmington is located in Graves County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
- Pryorsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Pryorsburg is located in Graves County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pryorsburg
- Hickman County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Union, with the one closest to West Union listed first.
- Fulgham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fulgham is located in Hickman County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulgham
- Moscow
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Moscow is located in Hickman County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Union, see our County-by-County Page for West Union.
Cemeteries Near West Union ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Union.
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 West Union - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Union covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Union, with the one closest to West Union listed first.
- Taylor Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Travillian Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- West Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bowers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Coltharp Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bradberry Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lebanon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Malone Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Parham Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Jolly Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Taylor Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (901 more) ...
- Grove Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Siloam Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Moran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<2>
While we didn't find West Union in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Union.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Union, with the one closest to West Union listed first.
- Dresden
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gleason
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Como
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Como is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Como
- Palmersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Palmersville is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmersville
- Ralston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ralston is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralston
- Pillowville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Pillowville is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pillowville
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,625 people
- Latham
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Latham is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latham
- Sharon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cottage Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Martin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Greenfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Christmasville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Christmasville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christmasville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- McKenzie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dukedom
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Dukedom is located in Weakley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dukedom
- Osage
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Osage is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Union. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Union.
Newspapers Published in West Union ...
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 103 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Union.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Union, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Union.
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 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 West Union:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Weakley County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carroll County
- Dyer County
- Gibson County
- Henry County
- Obion County
- Calloway County
- Fulton County
- Graves County
- Hickman 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 West Union, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- West Union) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |