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 Westel (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 Westel. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Westel is located in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County: Bledsoe, Fentress, Morgan, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Van Buren & White.
Below are the counties that are near Westel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Westel:
- Cumberland County (The home county of Westel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westel, with the one closest to Westel listed first.
- Crab Orchard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Center Ford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Center Ford is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,485 people
- Rogers
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Rogers is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,406 people
- Hebbertsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hebbertsburg is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebbertsburg
- Lake Pomeroy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Pomeroy is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Pomeroy
- Fairfield Glade
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jewett
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jewett is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewett
- Woodlands
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Woodlands is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlands
- Estimated population in 2014: 369 people
- Burke
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Burke is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burke
- Greenbriar Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Greenbriar Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenbriar Village
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,103 people
- Crossville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Lake Tansi Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Lake Tansi Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Tansi Village
- Population from the 2010 Census: 3,803 people
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westel, with the one closest to Westel listed first.
- Oak Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Oliver Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Robertsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Robertsville is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertsville
- Scarboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Scarboro is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scarboro
- Fairview ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Bledsoe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westel, with the one closest to Westel listed first.
- Ninemile
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ninemile is located in Bledsoe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ninemile
- Winesap
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Winesap is located in Bledsoe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winesap
- Summer City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Summer City is located in Bledsoe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer City
- Pikeville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fentress County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westel, with the one closest to Westel listed first.
- Clarkrange
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Grimsley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Loudon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westel, with the one closest to Westel listed first.
- Luttrell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Loudon City Park
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Loudon City Park is located in Loudon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loudon City Park
- Philadelphia
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Loudon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- White Wing Ferry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- White Wing Ferry is located in Loudon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Wing Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,550 people
- Eaton Crossroads
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Eaton Crossroads is located in Loudon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eaton Crossroads
- Lenoir City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Sharp Estates
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Sharp Estates is located in Loudon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharp Estates
- Estimated population in 2014: 919 people
- Vancouver ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Vancouver is located in Loudon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vancouver
- McMinn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westel, with the one closest to Westel listed first.
- Prigmore
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Prigmore is located in McMinn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prigmore
- Bell Spring
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bell Spring is located in McMinn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Spring
- Niota
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Athens
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Meigs County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westel, with the one closest to Westel listed first.
- Akeman Crossroad
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Akeman Crossroad is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akeman Crossroad
- Surprise
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Surprise is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surprise
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,799 people
- Cute ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Cute is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cute
- Sewee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Sewee is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewee
- Calico
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Calico is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calico
- Estimated population in 2014: 495 people
- Decatur
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Goodfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Goodfield is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodfield
- Beta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Beta is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beta
- Monroe County
- Sweetwater
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westel, with the one closest to Westel listed first.
- Harriman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Catoosa ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Catoosa is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoosa
- Deermont
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Deermont is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deermont
- Oakdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oakdale is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Nemo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Nemo is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemo
- Lancing
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Coal Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Coal Hill is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Hill
- Wartburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Gem ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Gem is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Gem
- Bucklick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Bucklick is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucklick
- Annadel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Annadel is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annadel
- Coalfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Coalfield is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalfield
- Population from the 2010 Census: 2,463 people
- Rhea County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westel, with the one closest to Westel listed first.
- Roddy
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Roddy is located in Rhea County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roddy
- Lakewood Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Lakewood Village is located in Rhea County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Village
- Population from the 2010 Census: 990 people
- Spring City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bryan Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bryan Hill is located in Rhea County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryan Hill
- Cumberland Spring
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cumberland Spring is located in Rhea County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Spring
- Dayton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Roane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westel, with the one closest to Westel listed first.
- Lakemont Heights
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lakemont Heights is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakemont Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 12,564 people
- Rockwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Glen Alice
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Glen Alice is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Alice
- Pioneer Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pioneer Village is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Village
- Cardiff
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Cardiff is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- College Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- College Grove is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Grove
- Estimated population in 2014: 10,729 people
- Postoak
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Postoak is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Postoak
- Postoak has also been known as:
- Post Oak Springs
- Emory Gap
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Emory Gap is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emory Gap
- Midtown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Midtown is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midtown
- Midtown Heights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Midtown Heights is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midtown Heights
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,360 people
- Iron Divide ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Iron Divide is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Divide
- Population from the 2010 Census: 328 people
- Kingston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Westel, see our County-by-County Page for Westel.
Cemeteries Near Westel ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westel.
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 Westel - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Westel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Westel, with the one closest to Westel listed first.
- Lingo Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- McLean Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Kelley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Bradshaw Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Honeycutt Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Gill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- King Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Hinds Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Day Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Price Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Golliher Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Mammy Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (853 more) ...
- Dogwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Williams Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hickey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<3>
While we didn't find Westel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Westel.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Westel, with the one closest to Westel listed first.
- Glen Alice
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Glen Alice is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Alice
- Rockwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Roddy
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Roddy is located in Rhea County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roddy
- Webster
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Webster is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Cardiff
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Cardiff is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Crab Orchard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Balta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Balta is located in Rhea County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balta
- Grandview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Grassy Cove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Grassy Cove is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy Cove
- Hebbertsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hebbertsburg is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebbertsburg
- Lorraine
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Lorraine is located in Rhea County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorraine
- Emory Gap
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Emory Gap is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emory Gap
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Jewett
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jewett is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewett
- Barnardsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Barnardsville is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnardsville
- Harriman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Westel. See our List of 1890's Communities around Westel.
Newspapers Published in Westel ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westel.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westel, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westel.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Westel:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Cumberland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Bledsoe County
- Fentress County
- Loudon County
- McMinn County
- Meigs County
- Monroe County
- Morgan County
- Rhea County
- Roane 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> | 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. |
| <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 Westel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Westel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |