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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 Bowdens (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 Bowdens. 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.

Bowdens is located in Duplin 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 Duplin County: Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pender, Sampson & Wayne.

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

  • Duplin County     (The home county of Bowdens)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bowdens, with the one closest to Bowdens listed first.
    • Everton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Everton is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everton
    • Friendship
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Friendship is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
    • Faison
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Warsaw
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Baltic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Baltic is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltic
    • Calypso
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Calypso is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calypso
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 528 people
    • Beautancus
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Beautancus is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beautancus
    • Carroll
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Carroll is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Summerlins Crossroads
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Westbrook Crossroads
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Westbrook Crossroads is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook Crossroads
    • Hills Crossroads
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Hills Crossroads is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills Crossroads
    • Kenansville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Greene County
    • Jason
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jason is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jason
  • Johnston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bowdens, with the one closest to Bowdens listed first.
    • Harper
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Harper is located in Johnston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
    • Bentonville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bentonville is located in Johnston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentonville
    • McKoy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • McKoy is located in Johnston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKoy
    • Peacocks Crossroads
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Peacocks Crossroads is located in Johnston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peacocks Crossroads
    • Princeton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Allens Crossroads
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Allens Crossroads is located in Johnston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Crossroads
  • Jones County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bowdens, with the one closest to Bowdens listed first.
    • Hargetts Crossroads
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Hargetts Crossroads is located in Jones County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hargetts Crossroads
    • Pleasant Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Pleasant Hill is located in Jones County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
    • Taylors Corner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Taylors Corner is located in Jones County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylors Corner
  • Lenoir County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bowdens, with the one closest to Bowdens listed first.
    • Pink Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Deep Run
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Deep Run is located in Lenoir County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep Run
    • La Grange
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Fields
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Fields is located in Lenoir County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fields
    • Albrittons
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Albrittons is located in Lenoir County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albrittons
  • Pender County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bowdens, with the one closest to Bowdens listed first.
    • Willard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Willard is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
    • Watha
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Watha is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
  • Sampson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bowdens, with the one closest to Bowdens listed first.
    • Turkey
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Elliott
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Elliott is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
    • Moltonville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Moltonville is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moltonville
    • Clinton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Keener
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Keener is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keener
    • Beulah
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Beulah is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
    • Kitty Fork
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Kitty Fork is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitty Fork
    • Bonnetsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Bonnetsville is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnetsville
    • Vann Crossroads
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Vann Crossroads is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vann Crossroads
    • Beaman Crossroads
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Beaman Crossroads is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaman Crossroads
    • Concord
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Concord is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Reynolds Crossroads
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Reynolds Crossroads is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynolds Crossroads
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bowdens, with the one closest to Bowdens listed first.
    • Mount Olive
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Dudley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Brogden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Brogden is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brogden
    • Grantham
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Grantham is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantham
    • Genoa
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Genoa is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
    • Mar-Mac
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Mar-Mac is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mar-Mac
    • Seven Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Mar-Mac Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Mar-Mac Village is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mar-Mac Village
    • Elroy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Elroy is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elroy
    • Walnut Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Walnut Creek is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 864 people
    • Goldsboro
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Berkeley Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Berkeley Village is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkeley Village

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

Cemeteries Near Bowdens ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bowdens.

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

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

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

  • Pine Crest Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Devotional Gardens
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Bradshaw Boone Family Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Pate Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Mary Of The Angels Catholic Church Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • New Hope Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Maplewood Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Carver Memorial Park
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Matthew Southerland Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (186 more) ...
    • Price Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Routledge Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sandhills Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)

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 Bowdens 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 Bowdens, with the one closest to Bowdens listed first.

  • Faison
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Warsaw
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Turkey
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Elliott
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Elliott is located in Sampson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
  • Kenansville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Mount Olive
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Magnolia
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Magnolia is located in Duplin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 951 people
  • Clinton
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Keener
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Keener is located in Sampson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keener
  • Dobbersville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Dobbersville is located in Sampson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobbersville
  • Waycross
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Waycross is located in Sampson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waycross
  • Sarecta
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Sarecta is located in Duplin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarecta
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Dudley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Taylors Bridge
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Taylors Bridge is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylors Bridge
    • Rose Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Bowdens ...

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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bowdens.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bowdens, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bowdens.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Bowdens:

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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bowdens) 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 Bowdens, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.