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 Boomer (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 Boomer. 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 doctors 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.
Boomer is located in Wilkes 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 Wilkes County: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Iredell, Surry, Watauga & Yadkin.
Below are the counties that are near Boomer. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Boomer:
- Wilkes County (The home county of Boomer)
- The following are listed by their distance from Boomer, with the one closest to Boomer listed first.
- Moravian Falls
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Adley
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Adley is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adley
- Stokes ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Stokes is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Mount Pleasant
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Ferguson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cricket
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cricket is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket
- Wilkesboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Millers Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Purlear
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Purlear is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purlear
- Fletcher ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fletcher is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
- Henderson ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Henderson is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson
- North Wilkesboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hendrix ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hendrix is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
- Alexander County
- The following are listed by their distance from Boomer, with the one closest to Boomer listed first.
- Ellendale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ellendale is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
- Vashti
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Vashti is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vashti
- Taylorsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Liledoun
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Liledoun is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liledoun
- Rocky Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rocky Springs is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Springs
- Little River
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Little River is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little River
- Midway
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Midway is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Isenhour Park
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Isenhour Park is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isenhour Park
- Fairview Park
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview Park is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Park
- Hiddenite
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Millersville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Millersville is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
- Bethlehem
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Bethlehem is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Taylorsville Beach
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Taylorsville Beach is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville Beach
- Alleghany County
- The following are listed by their distance from Boomer, with the one closest to Boomer listed first.
- Laurel Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Roaring Gap
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Scottville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Glade Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Ashe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Boomer, with the one closest to Boomer listed first.
- Obids
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Obids is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obids
- Yates
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Yates is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Glendale Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Fleetwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Brownwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Brownwood is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
- Transou
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Transou is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Transou
- Wagoner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wagoner is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wagoner
- Orion
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Orion is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- Todd
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- West Jefferson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Warrensville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Burke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Boomer, with the one closest to Boomer listed first.
- Rhodhiss
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hildebran
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Connelly Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Icard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rutherford College
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Chesterfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chesterfield is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
- Valdese
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Drexel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Drexel is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drexel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,861 people
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Boomer, with the one closest to Boomer listed first.
- Kings Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kings Creek is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Creek
- Draco
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Draco is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draco
- Cilley ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Cilley is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cilley
- Emanuel ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Emanuel is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emanuel
- Cedar Rock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Rock is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
- Cedar Rock has also been known as:
- Cedar Rock village
- Downsville ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Downsville is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downsville
- Patterson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Patterson is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Lenoir
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- 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>
- Concord ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Northlakes
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Northlakes is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northlakes
- Hudson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hudson is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,703 people
- Former name for Hudson:
- Hudsonville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hudson <1>
- Cajah's Mountain
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cajah's Mountain is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cajah's Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,728 people
- Granite Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Catawba County
- The following are listed by their distance from Boomer, with the one closest to Boomer listed first.
- North Hickory
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- North Hickory is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hickory
- Saint Stephens
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Saint Stephens is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Stephens
- Oxford Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Oxford Park is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Park
- Catfish
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Catfish is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catfish
- Viewmont
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Viewmont is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viewmont
- Sunrise Beach
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sunrise Beach is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunrise Beach
- Hickory
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hickory is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41,473 people
- Sweetwater
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Sweetwater is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetwater
- Conover
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Fairgrove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Fairgrove is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairgrove
- Long View
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Long View is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,951 people
- Brookford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Brookford is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 381 people
- Claremont
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Iredell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Boomer, with the one closest to Boomer listed first.
- Love Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- New Hope ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- New Hope is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Brevard ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Brevard is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevard
- Scotts
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Scotts is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts
- Union Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Olin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Olin is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olin
- Harmony
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Houstonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Houstonville is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houstonville
- Turnersburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Turnersburg is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnersburg
- Eufola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Eufola is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eufola
- Statesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Belmont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Belmont is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Surry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Boomer, with the one closest to Boomer listed first.
- Elkin Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Elkin Valley is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkin Valley
- Elkin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- State Road
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Thurmond
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Park is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Park
- Mulberry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mulberry is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Watauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Boomer, with the one closest to Boomer listed first.
- Stony Fork
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stony Fork is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Fork
- Deep Gap
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Laxon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Laxon is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laxon
- Bamboo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bamboo is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamboo
- Rutherwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rutherwood is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherwood
- Moretz
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Moretz is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moretz
- Boone
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sands
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sands is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Norris ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Norris is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Shulls Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Shulls Mill is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shulls Mill
- Foscoe
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Valle Crucis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Yadkin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Boomer, with the one closest to Boomer listed first.
- Swan Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Swan Creek is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Creek
- Cycle
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Cycle is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cycle
- Windsors Crossroads
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Windsors Crossroads is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsors Crossroads
- Marler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Marler is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marler
- Jonesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Rena is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rena
- Arlington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Arlington is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Hamptonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Branon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Branon is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branon
- Footville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Footville is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Boomer, see our County-by-County Page for Boomer.
Cemeteries Near Boomer ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Boomer.
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 Boomer - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Boomer covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Boomer, with the one closest to Boomer listed first.
- Lebanon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mountain Park Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Park Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mountain Park Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Wilkesboro.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #48172 <2>
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Union Tarheel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jolly Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Bethel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kings Creek Baptist Church Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Old Bethany Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sherrill Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Oxford Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Cherry Grove Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (214 more) ...
- Mountlawn Memorial Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Laytown Baptist Church Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Hunting Creek Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Boomer had a population of 37 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Boomer, with the one closest to Boomer listed first.
- Moravian Falls
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Adley
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Adley is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adley
- Wilkesboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cricket
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cricket is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket
- Ready Branch
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ready Branch is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ready Branch
- Purlear
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Purlear is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purlear
- Millers Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Elkville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Elkville is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkville
- Kings Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kings Creek is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Creek
- Ellendale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ellendale is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
- Vashti
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Vashti is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vashti
- Gilreath
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Gilreath is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilreath
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Hendrix ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hendrix is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
- Taylorsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hunting Creek ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hunting Creek is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunting Creek
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Boomer. See our List of 1890's Communities around Boomer.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Boomer ...
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 Boomer.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Boomer. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Boomer and those printed in the larger area surrounding Boomer.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3> of Boomer.
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 Boomer:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Wilkes County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alexander County
- Alleghany County
- Ashe County
- Burke County
- Caldwell County
- Catawba County
- Iredell County
- Surry County
- Watauga County
- Yadkin 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> | 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- Boomer) 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 Boomer, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |