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 Belva (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 Belva. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Belva is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Buncombe, Haywood, Yancey, Cocke (TN), Greene (TN) & Unicoi (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Belva. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Belva:
- Madison County (The home county of Belva)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belva, with the one closest to Belva listed first.
- Chapel Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Chapel Hill is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- Hurricane
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Hurricane is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurricane
- Allenstand
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Allenstand is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenstand
- White Rock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- White Rock is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
- Cutshalltown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cutshalltown is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutshalltown
- Stackhouse
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Stackhouse is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stackhouse
- Allegheny
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Allegheny is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allegheny
- Walnut
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Walnut is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Hot Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Foster Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Foster Creek is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Creek
- Bluff
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bluff is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff
- Marshall
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Buncombe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belva, with the one closest to Belva listed first.
- Flat Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Flat Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Creek
- Alexander
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Democrat
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Democrat is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Democrat
- Sandymush
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Sandymush is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandymush
- Sandymush has also been known as:
- Sandy Mush
- Leicester
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Barnardsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Stoney Knob
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Stoney Knob is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Knob
- Weaverville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rockview
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rockview is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockview
- Beech
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Beech is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech
- Woodfin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Newfound
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Newfound is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newfound
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belva, with the one closest to Belva listed first.
- Mount Sterling
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Sterling is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Teague ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Teague is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
- Canton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- West Canton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- West Canton is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Canton
- Clyde
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Morning Star
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Morning Star is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morning Star
- Lake Junaluska
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belva, with the one closest to Belva listed first.
- Bailey
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bailey is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
- Huntdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Huntdale is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntdale
- Relief
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Relief is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Relief
- Richlands
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Richlands is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
- Tipton Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Tipton Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton Hill
- Red Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Red Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Herrell ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Herrell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
- Yancey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belva, with the one closest to Belva listed first.
- Higgins
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Higgins is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higgins
- Ramseytown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Ramseytown is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramseytown
- Sioux
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Sioux is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux
- Concord
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Concord is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Burnsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Day Book
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Day Book is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day Book
- Murchison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Murchison is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murchison
- Low Gap
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Low Gap is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Gap
- Pensacola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Pensacola is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pensacola
- Green Mountain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Micaville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Celo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Celo is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Celo
- Cocke County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belva, with the one closest to Belva listed first.
- Wolf Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Wolf Creek is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Creek
- Del Rio
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Nough
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Nough is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nough
- Tom Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Tom Town is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tom Town
- West Myers
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- West Myers is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Myers
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,282 people
- Parrottsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Naillon ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Naillon is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naillon
- Bridgeport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Bridgeport is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Hartford
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Jimtown
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Jimtown is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
- Edwina
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Edwina is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwina
- Bybee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Greene County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belva, with the one closest to Belva listed first.
- Camp Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Camp Creek is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Creek
- Cedar Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Creek is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
- Water Fork Mill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Water Fork Mill is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Fork Mill
- Estimated population in 2014: 445 people
- Henshaw ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Henshaw is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henshaw
- Estimated population in 2014: 470 people
- Sirenburg ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sirenburg is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sirenburg
- Forest Hills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Forest Hills is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,027 people
- Greeneville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Horse Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Horse Creek is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Creek
- Estimated population in 2014: 284 people
- Pleasant View
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Pleasant View is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,251 people
- Tusculum
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Tusculum is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tusculum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,669 people
- Afton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Bolton Estates
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Bolton Estates is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton Estates
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,152 people
- Hamblen County (TN)
- Silver City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Silver City is located in Hamblen County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Hawkins County (TN)
- Bulls Gap
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belva, with the one closest to Belva listed first.
- Baneberry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Leadvale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Leadvale is located in Jefferson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leadvale
- Unicoi County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belva, with the one closest to Belva listed first.
- Flag Pond
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Flag Pond is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flag Pond
- Loganton ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Loganton is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganton
- Clear Branch
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Clear Branch is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Branch
- Former name for Clear Branch:
- Kittyton
- Ernestville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ernestville is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ernestville
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,311 people
- Indian Creek ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Creek is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
- Bumpus Cove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bumpus Cove is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpus Cove
- Estimated population in 2014: 729 people
- Banner Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- 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
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Unicoi
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Washington County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belva, with the one closest to Belva listed first.
- Nolichucky ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Nolichucky is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nolichucky
- Population from the 2010 Census: 5,861 people
- Conklin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Conklin is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin
- Limestone
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Mill Brook
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Mill Brook is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Brook
- Kansas City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Kansas City is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kansas City
- Oakland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Oakland is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Telford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bowmantown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bowmantown is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowmantown
- Population from the 2010 Census: 302 people
- Big Sandy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Big Sandy is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Sandy
- Estimated population in 2014: 542 people
- Leesburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Leesburg is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesburg
- Ducktown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Ducktown is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ducktown
- Estimated population in 2014: 457 people
- Jonesborough
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Belva, see our County-by-County Page for Belva.
Cemeteries Near Belva ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Belva.
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 Belva - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Belva covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Belva, with the one closest to Belva listed first.
- Cook Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Gahagan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gahagan Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Gahagan Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the southwest of White Rock.
- The Gahagan Cemetery has also been known as:
- George R.W. Gahagan
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2440456 <3>
- Gahagan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gahagan Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Gahagan Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the northeast of Hot Springs.
- The Gahagan Cemetery has also been known as:
- William Wade Gahagan Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2484308 <3>
- Griffey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Wheeler Gosnell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Ramsey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Gunter Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Love Joy Franklin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Chapel Hill Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Gentry Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Alonzo Gosnell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Gahagan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gahagan Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Gahagan Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the north of Walnut.
- The Gahagan Cemetery has also been known as:
- Don Gahagan Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2483523 <3>
- Continue List (661 more) ...
- Goforth Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Norton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Gosnell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 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.<4>
While we didn't find Belva in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Belva.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Belva, with the one closest to Belva listed first.
- White Rock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- White Rock is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
- Big Laurel
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Big Laurel is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Laurel
- Stackhouse
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Stackhouse is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stackhouse
- Hot Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy Bottom
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Sandy Bottom is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Bottom
- Allegheny
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Allegheny is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allegheny
- Barnard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Barnard is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnard
- Limestone Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Limestone Springs is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone Springs
- Paint Rock
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Paint Rock is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Rock
- Bluff
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bluff is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff
- Big Pine
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Big Pine is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Pine
- Marshall
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Rollins
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rollins is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollins
- Little Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Little Creek is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Creek
- Briggs ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Briggs is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briggs
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Belva. See our List of 1890's Communities around Belva.
Newspapers Published in Belva ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Belva.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Belva, 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 Belva.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Belva:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Madison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buncombe County
- Haywood County
- Mitchell County
- Yancey County
- Cocke County
- Greene County
- Hamblen County
- Hawkins County
- Jefferson 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> | 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- Belva) 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 Belva, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |