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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Big Laurel is located in Swain 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 Swain County: Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Blount (TN) & Sevier (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:
- Swain 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.
- Unahala
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Unahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
- Bryson City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cherokee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Almond
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Forney ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Forney is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forney
- Judson ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Judson is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Wesser
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Wesser is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesser
- Bushnell ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bushnell is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushnell
- Nantahala
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Nantahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Topton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Rhodo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Rhodo is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodo
- Buffalo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Buffalo is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Andrews
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Graham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Stecoah
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Stecoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stecoah
- Bear Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Bear Creek is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Cheoah
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Cheoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheoah
- Robbinsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Fontana Dam
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Fontana Dam is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontana Dam
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6 people
- Fontana Dam has also been known as:
- Fontana Village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fontana Dam <1>
- Yellow Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Yellow Creek is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- Lake Santeetlah
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Lake Santeetlah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Santeetlah
- Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
- Lake Santeetlah has also been known as:
- Santeetla
- Santeetlah
- Santultah
- Thunderbird Mountain
- Thunderbird
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Maggie Valley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hazelwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hazelwood is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Waynesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lavinia ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lavinia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
- Lake Junaluska
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Bethel is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Sonoma ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Sonoma is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- Clyde
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Teague ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Teague is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
- Cruso
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cruso is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruso
- West Canton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Canton is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Canton
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Wilmot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wilmot is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Dillsboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Greens Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- Gay
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Gay is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
- Whittier
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sylva
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Webster
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Cullowhee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Forest Hills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Forest Hills is located in Jackson County
- 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>
- Paint Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Paint Town is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Town
- East Laport
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Addie
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Addie is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
- Erastus
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Erastus is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erastus
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Leatherman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Franklin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Tellico
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tellico is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tellico
- Ellijay
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Fairview
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fairview is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Riverside
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Riverside is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Otto
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Lickskillet
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Scaly Mountain
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Orlando
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Orlando is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Transylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Sapphire
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Balsam Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lake Toxaway
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Rabun County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Sky Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Dillard
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Mountain City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Towns County (GA)
- Tate City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tate City is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate City
- Sevier County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Elkmont ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Elkmont is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkmont
- Gatlinburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Chalet Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Chalet Village is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalet Village
- Pittman Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Pittman Center is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittman Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 545 people
- Starkeytown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Starkeytown is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starkeytown
- Estimated population in 2014: 431 people
- Wear Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wear Valley is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wear Valley
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.
- Nations Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jones Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Shepherd Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Tom Nations Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bradley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hensley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bumgarner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Lakey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- New Savannah Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Wesleyanna UMC Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Cagle Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Franklin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (296 more) ...
- Worley Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Owl Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Stillwell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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 Big Laurel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Big Laurel.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Laurel, with the one closest to Big Laurel listed first.
- Leatherman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Wilmot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wilmot is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Dillsboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Whittier
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Webster
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Sylva
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Birdtown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Birdtown is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdtown
- Bryson City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cullowhee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Beta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Beta is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beta
- Cherokee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Franklin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Ellijay
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Fallcliff
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fallcliff is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallcliff
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 36 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 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. 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 Swain County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cherokee County
- Graham County
- Haywood County
- Jackson County
- Macon County
- Transylvania County
- Rabun County
- Towns County
- Sevier 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 Big Laurel, 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 things 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'. |