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 Briertown (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 Briertown. 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 doctors 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.
Briertown is located in Macon 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 Macon County: Rabun (GA), Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson & Swain.
Below are the counties that are near Briertown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Briertown:
- Macon County (The home county of Briertown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Briertown, with the one closest to Briertown listed first.
- Fairview
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Fairview is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Tellico
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Tellico is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tellico
- Leatherman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Franklin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Riverside
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Otto
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ellijay
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Orlando
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Orlando is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Lickskillet
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Scaly Mountain
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briertown, with the one closest to Briertown listed first.
- Topton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Rhodo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rhodo is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodo
- Buffalo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Buffalo is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Andrews
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Coalville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Coalville is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Marble
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Boiling Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Boiling Springs is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boiling Springs
- Murphy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Grape Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Grape Creek is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grape Creek
- Ogreeta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Ogreeta is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogreeta
- Unaka
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Unaka is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unaka
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briertown, with the one closest to Briertown listed first.
- Elf
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Elf is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elf
- Hayesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Brasstown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Warne
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Log Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Log Village is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Log Village
- Graham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briertown, with the one closest to Briertown listed first.
- Bear Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bear Creek is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Stecoah
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Stecoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stecoah
- Cheoah
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cheoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheoah
- Robbinsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lake Santeetlah
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- 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
- Fontana Dam
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- 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
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Yellow Creek is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briertown, with the one closest to Briertown listed first.
- Whittier
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Gay
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Gay is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
- Wilmot
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Wilmot is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Greens Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- Dillsboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Paint Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Paint Town is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Town
- Forest Hills
(23 miles [37 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>
- Sylva
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Webster
(23 miles [37 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Erastus
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Erastus is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erastus
- East Laport
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Swain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briertown, with the one closest to Briertown listed first.
- Nantahala
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Nantahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
- Wesser
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Wesser is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesser
- Almond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Judson ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Judson is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Bushnell ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Bushnell is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushnell
- Forney ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Forney is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forney
- Unahala
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Unahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
- Bryson City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cherokee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rabun County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Briertown, with the one closest to Briertown listed first.
- Dillard
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Sky Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Germany
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Germany is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germany
- Mountain City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Clayton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tiger
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Towns County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Briertown, with the one closest to Briertown listed first.
- Tate City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Tate City is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate City
- Hunt ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Hunt is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt
- Hiawassee
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Young Harris
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jacksonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jacksonville is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Estimated population in 2019: 5,239 people
- Blount County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Briertown, with the one closest to Briertown listed first.
- Red Bank
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Red Bank is located in Blount County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Townsend
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Chilhowee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Chilhowee is located in Blount County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chilhowee
- Happy Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Happy Valley is located in Blount County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Happy Valley
- Monroe County (TN)
- Ipe ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ipe is located in Monroe County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ipe
- Sevier County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Briertown, with the one closest to Briertown listed first.
- Elkmont ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Elkmont is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkmont
- Chalet Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Chalet Village is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalet Village
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Briertown, see our County-by-County Page for Briertown.
Cemeteries Near Briertown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Briertown.
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 Briertown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Briertown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Briertown, with the one closest to Briertown listed first.
- Bethel Hill MB Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Aquone Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Grant Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Wesser Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Windy Gap Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Grave Gap Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Breedlove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Tippet Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tellico Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ledbetter Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cable Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Morgan Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (284 more) ...
- Truitt Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Brush Creek Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Tabor Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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 Briertown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Briertown.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Briertown, with the one closest to Briertown listed first.
- Aquone
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Aquone is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquone
- Hewitt
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hewitt is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hewitt
- Nantahala
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Nantahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
- Stecoah
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Stecoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stecoah
- Judson ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Judson is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Tuskeegee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tuskeegee is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuskeegee
- Bushnell ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Bushnell is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushnell
- Robbinsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Andrews
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Leatherman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Franklin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Bryson City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Tusquitee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tusquitee is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tusquitee
- Proctor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Proctor is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor
- Coalville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Coalville is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Briertown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Briertown.
Newspapers Published in Briertown ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Briertown.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Briertown, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Briertown.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Briertown:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Macon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cherokee County
- Clay County
- Graham County
- Jackson County
- Swain County
- Rabun County
- Towns County
- Blount County
- Monroe 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 Briertown, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Briertown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |