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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 Ruralvale (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 Ruralvale. 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 and 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 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.

Ruralvale is located in Whitfield County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Whitfield County: Catoosa, Gordon, Murray, Walker, Bradley (TN) & Hamilton (TN).

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

  • Whitfield County     (The home county of Ruralvale)
  • Catoosa County
  • Fannin County
  • Gilmer County
  • Gordon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruralvale, with the one closest to Ruralvale listed first.
    • Buff ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Buff is located in Gordon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buff
      • Estimated population in 2019: 15,522 people
    • Soapstick
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Soapstick is located in Gordon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soapstick
      • Estimated population in 2019: 4,544 people
    • Hill City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Hill City is located in Gordon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill City
    • Resaca Ferry
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Resaca Ferry is located in Gordon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Resaca Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2019: 803 people
    • Resaca
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Damascus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Sugar Valley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Oakman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • New Town
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • New Town is located in Gordon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
    • Calhoun Ferry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Calhoun Ferry is located in Gordon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2019: 17,271 people
    • Calhoun
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Ranger
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Murray County
  • Walker County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruralvale, with the one closest to Ruralvale listed first.
    • Furnace ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Villanow
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Rock Spring
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Dewberry Town
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Dewberry Town is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewberry Town
    • Lytle
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Lytle is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lytle
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 37,115 people
    • Park City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Park City is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City
    • Chickamauga
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Fairview
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • John Ross Estates
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • John Ross Estates is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for John Ross Estates
      • Estimated population in 2018: 84,310 people
    • Orchard Hills
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Orchard Hills is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
      • Estimated population in 2019: 232 people
    • Rossville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Warren Terrace
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Warren Terrace is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Terrace
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,720 people
  • Bradley County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruralvale, with the one closest to Ruralvale listed first.
    • Earnest ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Earnest is located in Bradley County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earnest
    • Wildwood Lake
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Wildwood Lake is located in Bradley County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood Lake
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 3,124 people
    • South Cleveland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • South Cleveland is located in Bradley County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Cleveland
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 6,912 people
    • McDonald
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Mineral Park
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Cleveland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • East Cleveland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • East Cleveland is located in Bradley County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cleveland
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,608 people
    • Bent Tree Acres
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Bent Tree Acres is located in Bradley County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Tree Acres
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,309 people
    • Countryside Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Countryside Village is located in Bradley County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside Village
    • Hopewell Estates
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Hopewell Estates is located in Bradley County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell Estates
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,874 people
    • Hopewell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Hopewell is located in Bradley County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
    • Bellefounte
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
  • Hamilton County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruralvale, with the one closest to Ruralvale listed first.
    • Howardville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Apison
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Collegedale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Ooltewah
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Ryall Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Ryall Springs is located in Hamilton County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryall Springs
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,166 people
    • Auburn Hills
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Auburn Hills is located in Hamilton County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn Hills
      • Estimated population in 2014: 929 people
    • East Brainerd
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • East Brainerd is located in Hamilton County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brainerd
    • Brainerd Hills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Harrison
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • East Ridge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Hillsboro Heights
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Hillsboro Heights is located in Hamilton County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro Heights
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 450 people
    • Harrison Ferry
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Harrison Ferry is located in Hamilton County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison Ferry
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 7,769 people
  • McMinn County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruralvale, with the one closest to Ruralvale listed first.
    • Calhoun
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Luskville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Polk County (TN)

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

Cemeteries Near Ruralvale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ruralvale.

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

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

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

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Ruralvale had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Norton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Norton is located in Whitfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norton
  • Beaverdale
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Beaverdale is located in Whitfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaverdale
  • Sumac
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Dawnville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Dawnville is located in Whitfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawnville
  • Mills ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Mills is located in Whitfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills
  • Fillmore ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Fillmore is located in Whitfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
  • Waring
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Cedar Ridge
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Cedar Ridge is located in Whitfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Ridge
  • Cohutta
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Spring Place
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Spring Place is located in Murray County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Place
  • Cisco
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Red Clay
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Earnest ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Earnest is located in Bradley County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earnest
    • Dalton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Fort Mountain ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Fort Mountain is located in Murray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Mountain

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

Newspapers Published in Ruralvale ...

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 Ruralvale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ruralvale, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ruralvale.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Ruralvale:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Ruralvale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 Ruralvale, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.