RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of North Carolina >> Alamance County >> Birchwood >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Birchwood (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 Birchwood. 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.

Birchwood is located in Alamance 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 Alamance County: Caswell, Chatham, Guilford, Orange, Randolph & Rockingham.

Below are the counties that are near Birchwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Birchwood:

  • Alamance County     (The home county of Birchwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Birchwood, with the one closest to Birchwood listed first.
    • British Acres
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • British Acres is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for British Acres
    • Green Acres
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Green Acres is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Acres
    • Glen Raven
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Glen Raven is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Raven
    • Spring Valley
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Spring Valley is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
    • Sherwood Forest
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Sherwood Forest is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood Forest
    • Glencoe
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Glencoe is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glencoe
    • Hunting Hills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Hunting Hills is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunting Hills
    • Lakeview
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lakeview is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
    • Rockwood Acres
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Rockwood Acres is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood Acres
    • Jackson Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Jackson Park is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Park
    • Lakeside
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Lakeside is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
    • Morgantown
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Morgantown is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgantown
  • Caswell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Birchwood, with the one closest to Birchwood listed first.
    • Stony Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Stony Creek is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Creek
    • Anderson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Anderson is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
    • Jericho
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jericho is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
    • Ashland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Ashland is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Locust Hill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Locust Hill is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Hill
    • Prospect Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Prospect Hill is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect Hill
    • Quick
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Quick is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quick
    • West Yanceyville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • West Yanceyville is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Yanceyville
    • Yanceyville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Ridgeville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Ridgeville is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
    • Bethel
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Bethel is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
    • Leasburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Chatham County
    • Siler City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Durham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Birchwood, with the one closest to Birchwood listed first.
    • The American Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • The American Village is located in Durham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The American Village
    • Rougemont
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Guilford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Birchwood, with the one closest to Birchwood listed first.
    • Gibsonville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Whitsett
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Sedalia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Sedalia is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 689 people
    • McLeansville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Browns Summit
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Rudd
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Rudd is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudd
    • Forest Oaks
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Forest Oaks is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Oaks
    • Cumberland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Cumberland is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
    • White Oak
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • White Oak is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Greensboro
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Spicewood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Spicewood is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spicewood
    • Fairfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Fairfield is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
  • Orange County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Birchwood, with the one closest to Birchwood listed first.
    • Lakeview Acres
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Lakeview Acres is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview Acres
    • Miles
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Miles is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miles
    • Carr
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Carr is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carr
    • Cheeks Crossroads
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Cheeks Crossroads is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheeks Crossroads
    • Cedar Grove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
    • Jordan Oak
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Jordan Oak is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan Oak
    • McDade
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • McDade is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDade
    • Efland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Stagecoach Forest
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Stagecoach Forest is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stagecoach Forest
    • Walkers Landing
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Walkers Landing is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkers Landing
    • Oaks
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Oaks is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaks
    • Just-A-Mere Landing
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Just-A-Mere Landing is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Just-A-Mere Landing
  • Person County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Birchwood, with the one closest to Birchwood listed first.
    • Hurdle Mills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Allens Level
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Allens Level is located in Person County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Level
    • Cates
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Cates is located in Person County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cates
    • Roseville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Roseville is located in Person County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
    • Timberlake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Concord
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Concord is located in Person County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Hicks Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Hicks Village is located in Person County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks Village
    • Whitt Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Whitt Town is located in Person County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitt Town
  • Randolph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Birchwood, with the one closest to Birchwood listed first.
    • Liberty
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Redcross
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Redcross is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redcross
    • Melanchton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Melanchton is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melanchton
    • Staley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Millboro
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Millboro is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millboro
    • Ramseur
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Franklinville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Randleman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Worthville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Worthville is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthville
    • Cedar Falls
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cedar Falls is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Falls
    • New Market
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • New Market is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Market
    • Sophia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Rockingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Birchwood, with the one closest to Birchwood listed first.
    • Reidsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Lawsonville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Lawsonville is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonville
    • Belmont
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Belmont is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
    • Norwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Norwood is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
    • Ruffin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Wittys Crossroads
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Wittys Crossroads is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittys Crossroads
    • Wentworth
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Wentworth is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wentworth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,734 people
    • College Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • College Village is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Village
    • Draper ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Draper is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draper
    • Gold Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Gold Hill is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Hill
    • Eden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Eden is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,867 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eden <1>
    • Meadow Summit
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Meadow Summit is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Summit

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Birchwood, see our County-by-County Page for Birchwood.

Cemeteries Near Birchwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Birchwood.

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 Birchwood - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Birchwood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Birchwood, with the one closest to Birchwood listed first.

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 Birchwood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Birchwood.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Birchwood, with the one closest to Birchwood listed first.

  • Elon College
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Burlington
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Altamahaw
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Altamahaw is located in Alamance County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamahaw
  • Gibsonville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • McCray
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • McCray is located in Alamance County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCray
  • Graham
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Graham is located in Alamance County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,766 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Graham <1>
  • Haw River
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Union Ridge
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Union Ridge is located in Alamance County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Ridge
  • Stony Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Stony Creek is located in Caswell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Creek
  • Swepsonville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Swepsonville is located in Alamance County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swepsonville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,386 people
  • McLeansville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Hawfields
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Hawfields is located in Alamance County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawfields
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Rock Creek
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Rock Creek is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
    • Mebane
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Mebane is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mebane
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,732 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mebane <1>
    • Cherry Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Cherry Grove is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Birchwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Birchwood.

Newspapers Published in Birchwood ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Birchwood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Birchwood, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Birchwood.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Birchwood:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Birchwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Birchwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.