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 Big Laurel (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 Big Laurel. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
Big Laurel 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 Big Laurel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Big Laurel:
- Madison County (The home county of Big Laurel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Cutshalltown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Cutshalltown is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutshalltown
- Chapel Hill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Chapel Hill is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- White Rock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- White Rock is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
- Foster Creek
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Foster Creek is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Creek
- Allegheny
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Allegheny is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allegheny
- Hurricane
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hurricane is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurricane
- Allenstand
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Allenstand is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenstand
- Stackhouse
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stackhouse is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stackhouse
- Walnut
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Petersburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Petersburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Hot Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Mars Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Buncombe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Flat Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Flat Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Creek
- Democrat
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Democrat is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Democrat
- Alexander
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Barnardsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rockview
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rockview is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockview
- Weaverville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Leicester
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Stoney Knob
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Stoney Knob is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Knob
- Beech
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Beech is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech
- Woodfin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Sandymush
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sandymush is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandymush
- Sandymush has also been known as:
- Sandy Mush
- 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 Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Mount Sterling
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Sterling is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Teague ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 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
- 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
- Clyde
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Huntdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Huntdale is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntdale
- Bailey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bailey is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
- Relief
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Relief is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Relief
- Richlands
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Richlands is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
- Tipton Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Tipton Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton Hill
- Red Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Red Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Herrell ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Herrell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
- Bakersville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Little Rock Creek ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Little Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Creek
- Buladean
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Buladean is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladean
- Yancey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Higgins
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Higgins is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higgins
- Ramseytown
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ramseytown is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramseytown
- Sioux
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sioux is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux
- Concord
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Concord is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Burnsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Day Book
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Day Book is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day Book
- Low Gap
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Low Gap is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Gap
- Murchison
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Murchison is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murchison
- Pensacola
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Pensacola is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pensacola
- Green Mountain
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Micaville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Double Island
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Double Island is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Island
- Carter County (TN)
- Woodby Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Woodby Hill is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodby Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,730 people
- Cocke County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Wolf Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Wolf Creek is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Creek
- Nough
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Nough is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nough
- Del Rio
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Tom Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Tom Town is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tom Town
- West Myers
(22 miles [35.4 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
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Naillon ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Naillon is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naillon
- Bridgeport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bridgeport is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Edwina
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Edwina is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwina
- Hartford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Jimtown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Jimtown is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
- Wilton Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Wilton Springs is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton Springs
- Greene County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Camp Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Camp Creek is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Creek
- Water Fork Mill
(13 miles [20.9 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
- Cedar Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Creek is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
- Henshaw ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Henshaw is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henshaw
- Estimated population in 2014: 470 people
- 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
(17 miles [27.4 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
(17 miles [27.4 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
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Forest Hills
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Hills is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,027 people
- Greeneville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Sirenburg ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sirenburg is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sirenburg
- Bolton Estates
(19 miles [30.6 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
- Unicoi County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Flag Pond
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Flag Pond is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flag Pond
- Loganton ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Loganton is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganton
- Clear Branch
(12 miles [19.3 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
(13 miles [20.9 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
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Creek is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
- Bumpus Cove
(18 miles [29 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
(19 miles [30.6 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
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Unicoi
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Limestone Cove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Limestone Cove is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone Cove
- Whispering Pines
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Whispering Pines is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Pines
- Washington County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Nolichucky ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Nolichucky is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nolichucky
- Population from the 2010 Census: 5,861 people
- Conklin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Conklin is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin
- Limestone
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Kansas City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kansas City is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kansas City
- 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
- Oakland
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Oakland is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Telford
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Big Sandy
(26 miles [41.8 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
- 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
- Leesburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Leesburg is located in Washington County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesburg
- Jonesborough
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- 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
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Big Laurel, see our County-by-County Page for Big Laurel.
Cemeteries Near Big Laurel ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Laurel.
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 Big Laurel - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Big Laurel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Jack Wallin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Laurel Seminary Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Gosnell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Rice Cove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Davis Rice Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Lewis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Norton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- J. V. Shelton Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Gunter Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Franklin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Cemetery
- The Franklin Cemetery has also been known as:
- Carl Franklin Cemetery
- Ramsey Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wallin Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (693 more) ...
- Old Wallin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Wallin Cemetery
- The Old Wallin Cemetery has also been known as:
- Ramsey - Wallin Cemetery
- Wallin Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tommy Wallin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Big Laurel had a population of 15 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- White Rock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- White Rock is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
- Allegheny
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Allegheny is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allegheny
- Stackhouse
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stackhouse is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stackhouse
- Sandy Bottom
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy Bottom is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Bottom
- Little Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Little Creek is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Creek
- Barnard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Barnard is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnard
- Briggs ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Briggs is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briggs
- Hot Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Marshall
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rollins
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rollins is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollins
- Mars Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bluff
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bluff is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Loganton ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Loganton is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganton
- Limestone Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Limestone Springs is located in Greene County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone Springs
- Paint Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Paint Rock is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Rock
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Big Laurel. See our List of 1890's Communities around Big Laurel.
Newspapers Published in Big Laurel ...
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 9 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Laurel.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Laurel, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Big Laurel.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Big Laurel:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Madison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buncombe County
- Haywood County
- Mitchell County
- Yancey County
- Carter County
- Cocke County
- Greene 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 'straight-line' (or 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- Big Laurel) 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 Big Laurel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |