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 Altamont (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 Altamont. 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 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.
Altamont is located in Avery County.
To see how the shape of North Carolina's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Avery County: Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Mitchell, Watauga, Carter (TN) & Johnson (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Altamont. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Altamont:
- Avery County (The home county of Altamont)
- The following are listed by their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Stamey Town
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Stamey Town is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stamey Town
- Crossnore
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Linville Falls
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Pineola
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Pleasant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Plumtree
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Chestnut Dale
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Chestnut Dale is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Dale
- Montezuma
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Montezuma is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
- Newland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Linville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Minneapolis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Minneapolis is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minneapolis
- Vale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Vale is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vale
- Ashe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Brownwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brownwood is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
- Todd
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Buncombe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Montreat
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rockview
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rockview is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockview
- Burke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Jonas Ridge
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Linville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Linville is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Chesterfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Chesterfield is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
- Glen Alpine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Parkhill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Parkhill is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkhill
- Calvin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Calvin is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
- Morganton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Magnolia
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Magnolia is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Rollins ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Rollins is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollins
- Drexel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Drexel is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drexel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,861 people
- Salem
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Salem is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Brindletown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Brindletown is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brindletown
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Mortimer ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mortimer is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mortimer
- Adako
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Adako is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adako
- Collettsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Muttenz ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Muttenz is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muttenz
- Mulberry
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Mulberry is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Rufus
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Rufus is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rufus
- Blowing Rock
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Abingdon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Abingdon is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abingdon
- Patterson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Patterson is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Gamewell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Gamewell is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gamewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,993 people
- Pinehurst
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pinehurst is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehurst
- Lenoir
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Lenoir is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenoir
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17,911 people
- Former name for Lenoir:
- Tucker's Barn
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lenoir <1>
- Madison County
- Bethel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- McDowell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Ashford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Ashford is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
- Little Switzerland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nebo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Marion
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Patten
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Patten is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patten
- West Marion
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- West Marion is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Marion
- Greenlee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Greenlee is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlee
- Providence
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Providence is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Glenwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Glenwood is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Dendron
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dendron is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dendron
- Lackey Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lackey Town is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackey Town
- Old Fort
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Altapass
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Altapass is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altapass
- Spruce Pine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Grassy Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Grassy Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy Creek
- Penland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bakersville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Little Rock Creek ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Little Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Creek
- Herrell ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Herrell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
- Buladean
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Buladean is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladean
- Red Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Red Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Tipton Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Tipton Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton Hill
- Relief
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Relief is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Relief
- Bailey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Bailey is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
- Watauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Foscoe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Matney
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Matney is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Shulls Mill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shulls Mill is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shulls Mill
- Rominger
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Rominger is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rominger
- Valle Crucis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Watauga Falls ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Watauga Falls is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watauga Falls
- Sugar Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Vilas
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Boone
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bamboo
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Bamboo is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamboo
- Mabel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mabel is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
- Sands
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sands is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Yancey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Double Island
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Double Island is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Island
- Newdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Newdale is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newdale
- Micaville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Celo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Celo is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Celo
- Green Mountain
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Hamrick
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hamrick is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamrick
- Day Book
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Day Book is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day Book
- Burnsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Low Gap
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Low Gap is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Gap
- Pensacola
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pensacola is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pensacola
- Concord
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Concord is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Murchison
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Murchison is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murchison
- Carter County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Burbank
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Burbank is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burbank
- Heaton Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Heaton Creek is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heaton Creek
- Shell Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Shell Creek is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shell Creek
- Estimated population in 2014: 21,037 people
- Roan Mountain
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tolley Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Tolley Town is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolley Town
- Woodby Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Woodby Hill is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodby Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,730 people
- Fish Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Fish Springs is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Springs
- Hampton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Gap Run
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Gap Run is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gap Run
- Siam
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Siam is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siam
- Elizabethton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hunter
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hunter is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Johnson County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Norris
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Norris is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,652 people
- Butler
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- High Health ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- High Health is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Health
- Trade
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
- Unicoi County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Limestone Cove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Limestone Cove is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone Cove
- Unicoi
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Whispering Pines
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Whispering Pines is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Pines
- Banner Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Banner Hill is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banner Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,497 people
- Erwin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Indian Creek ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Indian Creek is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
- Washington County (TN)
- South Gate Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- South Gate Village is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gate Village
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Altamont, see our County-by-County Page for Altamont.
Cemeteries Near Altamont ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Altamont.
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 Altamont - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Altamont covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Wise Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Temple Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Clark Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Franklin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cuthbertson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Taylor Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Benfield Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Johnson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Calloway Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ingram Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Phillips Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Daniels Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Continue List (623 more) ...
- Clark Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clark Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Taylor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
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 Altamont in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Altamont.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Altamont, with the one closest to Altamont listed first.
- Crossnore
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jonas Ridge
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Spruce Pine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ashford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Ashford is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
- Ledger
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Ledger is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledger
- Penland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- North Cove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- North Cove is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cove
- Glen Ayre
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Glen Ayre is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Ayre
- Estatoe
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Estatoe is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estatoe
- Bakersville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Table Rock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Table Rock is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Table Rock
- Globe
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Globe is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Heaton Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Heaton Creek is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heaton Creek
- Burbank
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Burbank is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burbank
- Cloudland ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cloudland is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloudland
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Altamont. See our List of 1890's Communities around Altamont.
Newspapers Published in Altamont ...
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 Altamont.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Altamont, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Altamont.
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 Altamont:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Avery County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Ashe County
- Buncombe County
- Burke County
- Caldwell County
- Madison County
- McDowell County
- Mitchell County
- Watauga County
- Yancey County
- Carter County
- Johnson County
- Unicoi County
- Washington County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for North Carolina
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 Altamont, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Altamont) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |