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 Sky Valley (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 Sky Valley. 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 Sky Valley ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Sky Valley: Sky Vly. (or less commonly used: Sky Vally. or Sky Vlly.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Sky Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Sky Valley.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Sky Valley is located in Rabun 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 Rabun County: Habersham, Towns, Clay (NC), Jackson (NC), Macon (NC) & Oconee (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Sky Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sky Valley:
- Rabun County (The home county of Sky Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Dillard
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mountain City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Antioch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Antioch is located in Rabun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Clayton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Germany
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Germany is located in Rabun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germany
- Tiger
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wiley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Lakemont
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Tallulah Falls
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Habersham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Tugaloo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Tugaloo is located in Habersham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tugaloo
- Turnerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Clarkesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hills is located in Habersham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills
- Mauldins ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mauldins is located in Habersham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauldins
- Estimated population in 2019: 225 people
- Stephens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Jarrett
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Jarrett is located in Stephens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,974 people
- Toccoa Falls
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Toccoa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Carnes Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Carnes Creek is located in Stephens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnes Creek
- Estimated population in 2019: 601 people
- Towns County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Tate City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Tate City is located in Towns County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate City
- Hunt ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hunt is located in Towns County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt
- Hiawassee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Young Harris
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Jacksonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Jacksonville is located in Towns County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Estimated population in 2019: 5,239 people
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Sautee - Nacoochee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Helen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Nacoochee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Nacoochee is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nacoochee
- Naguchee ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Naguchee is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naguchee
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,141 people
- Robertstown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Robertstown is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertstown
- Cherokee County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Topton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rhodo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rhodo is located in Cherokee County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodo
- Buffalo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Buffalo is located in Cherokee County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Clay County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Elf
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Elf is located in Clay County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elf
- Hayesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Graham County (NC)
- Bear Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bear Creek is located in Graham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Jackson County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Highlands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cashiers
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Erastus
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Erastus is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erastus
- Glenville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gay
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Gay is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
- Forest Hills
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Forest Hills is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
- Forest Hills has also been known as:
- Forest Hills village
- Village of Forest Hills
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Forest Hills <1>
- Tuckasegee
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Cullowhee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Greens Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- East Laport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Argura
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Argura is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argura
- Dillsboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Macon County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Scaly Mountain
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Orlando
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Orlando is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Lickskillet
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Otto
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Riverside is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Franklin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Ellijay
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Leatherman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Tellico
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Tellico is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tellico
- Fairview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Swain County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Unahala
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Unahala is located in Swain County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
- Nantahala
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nantahala is located in Swain County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
- Wesser
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wesser is located in Swain County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesser
- Almond
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Transylvania County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Sapphire
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Toxaway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Rosman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rosman is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 624 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosman <1>
- Balsam Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oconee County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Mountain Rest
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Longcreek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle Creek
- Tamassee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Salem
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Walhalla
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Union
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Harbin ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Harbin is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbin
- Madison
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Madison is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
- Westminster
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Richland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Newry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pickens County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Nine Times
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Nine Times is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Times
- Rocky Bottom
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rocky Bottom is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Bottom
- Sunset
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sky Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Sky Valley.
Cemeteries Near Sky Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sky Valley.
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 Sky Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sky Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Kelly Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Watkins Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Head of Tennesse Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Wesley Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mc Connell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hale Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Duncan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- McCurry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Kell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bettys Creek Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (309 more) ...
- Green Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Antioch UMC Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hamby Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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 Sky Valley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sky Valley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sky Valley, with the one closest to Sky Valley listed first.
- Scaly Mountain
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Otto
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clayton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Mountain
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Pine Mountain is located in Rabun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mountain
- Highlands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Persimmon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Persimmon is located in Rabun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persimmon
- Tiger
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blalock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Blalock is located in Rabun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blalock
- Whetstone
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Whetstone is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whetstone
- Mountain Rest
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cullasaja
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Cullasaja is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullasaja
- Franklin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Ellijay
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Longcreek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Cashiers
(15 miles [24.1 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 Sky Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sky Valley.
Newspapers Published in Sky Valley ...
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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sky Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sky Valley, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sky Valley.
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 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 Sky Valley:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Rabun County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Habersham County
- Stephens County
- Towns County
- White County
- Cherokee County
- Clay County
- Graham County
- Jackson County
- Macon County
- Swain County
- Transylvania County
- Oconee County
- Pickens County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Georgia
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 Sky Valley, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Sky Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |