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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 Tennessee (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 Tennessee. 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/Parishes ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties/parishes.

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/parishes 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/parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Tennessee is located in Shelby County.

To see how the shape of Texas' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Shelby County: De Soto (LA), Sabine (LA), Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine & San Augustine.

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

  • Shelby County     (The home county of Tennessee)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Tenaha
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Timpson
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Arcadia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Arcadia is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Center
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Joaquin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Africa ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Africa is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
    • Haslam
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Haslam is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haslam
    • Campti
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Campti is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campti
    • Short
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Short is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
    • Shelbyville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Choice
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Choice is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choice
    • Huxley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Huxley is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huxley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
  • Harrison County
  • Nacogdoches County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Garrison
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Fitze
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Fitze is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitze
    • Whispering Pines
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Whispering Pines is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Pines
    • Martinsville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Appleby
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Appleby is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
    • Swift
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Swift is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift
    • Attoyac
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Attoyac is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attoyac
    • Redfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Redfield is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfield
    • Trawick
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Trawick is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trawick
  • Panola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Woods
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Woods is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods
    • Gary City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Buncome
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Buncome is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buncome
    • Murvaul
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Murvaul is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murvaul
    • Dotson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Dotson is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotson
    • Carthage
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Clayton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Delray
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Delray is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delray
    • Long Branch
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Midyett
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Midyett is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midyett
    • Beckville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • De Berry
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Center Point ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Center Point is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
  • Rusk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Caledonia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Caledonia is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
    • Concord
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Concord is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Pinehill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Pinehill is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehill
    • Brachfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Brachfield is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brachfield
    • Mount Enterprise
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Minden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Oak Flats
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Oak Flats is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Flats
    • Sulphur Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Sulphur Springs is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
    • Tatum
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Laneville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • San Augustine County
    • Denning
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Denning is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
  • De Soto Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tennessee, with the one closest to Tennessee listed first.
    • Logansport
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Longstreet
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Stanley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Stanley is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Keachi
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Keachi is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keachi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
    • Screamerville ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Screamerville is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screamerville

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

Cemeteries Near Tennessee ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Tennessee.

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

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

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

  • Tennessee Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Bobo Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Union Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Restland Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Gary Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Woods Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Shady Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Bethel MB Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Woodlawn Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Hayden Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Thomas Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Cedar Yard Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (213 more) ...
    • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Murvaul Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Dixon Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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.<4>

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

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

  • Tenaha
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Timpson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Woods
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Woods is located in Panola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods
  • Huber
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Huber is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huber
  • Caledonia
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Caledonia is located in Rusk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
  • Garrison
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Center
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Carthage
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Joaquin
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Delray
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Delray is located in Panola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delray
  • Deadwood
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Deadwood is located in Panola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deadwood
  • Long Branch
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Lawsonville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Lawsonville is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonville
    • Fitze
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Fitze is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitze
    • Short
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Short is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Tennessee. See our List of 1890's Communities around Tennessee.

Newspapers Published in Tennessee ...

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 17 newspapers that have been published in the area around Tennessee.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Tennessee, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Tennessee.

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 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 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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Tennessee) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Tennessee, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.