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 Buena Vista (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 Buena Vista. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Buena Vista is located in Buncombe 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 Buncombe County: Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Rutherford, Transylvania & Yancey.
Below are the counties that are near Buena Vista. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Buena Vista:
- Buncombe County (The home county of Buena Vista)
- The following are listed by their distance from Buena Vista, with the one closest to Buena Vista listed first.
- Biltmore Forest
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Biltmore Forest is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biltmore Forest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,431 people
- Shiloh
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Shiloh is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Sayles Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Sayles Village is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sayles Village
- Busbee
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Busbee is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busbee
- Skyland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Redwood Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Redwood Village is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood Village
- Royal Pines
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Royal Pines is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Pines
- Asheville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Azalea
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Azalea is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Azalea
- West Asheville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- West Asheville is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Asheville
- Arden
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bent Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Bent Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Creek
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buena Vista, with the one closest to Buena Vista listed first.
- Morning Star
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Morning Star is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morning Star
- Cruso
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cruso is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruso
- Canton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- West Canton
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- West Canton is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Canton
- Sonoma ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Sonoma is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- Bethel
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Clyde
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lavinia ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Lavinia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
- Lake Junaluska
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Waynesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Hazelwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Hazelwood is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Teague ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Teague is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buena Vista, with the one closest to Buena Vista listed first.
- Fletcher
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Naples
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Naples is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naples
- Gerton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mills River
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mountain Home
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Bearwallow
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bearwallow is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearwallow
- Cumberland Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Cumberland Village is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Village
- Balfour
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Balfour is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balfour
- Holly Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Holly Springs is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Horse Shoe
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Pinehurst
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Pinehurst is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehurst
- U-No
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- U-No is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for U-No
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buena Vista, with the one closest to Buena Vista listed first.
- Ivy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ivy is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivy
- Rollins
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rollins is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollins
- Mars Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Petersburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Petersburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Marshall
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bethel is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Trust
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Trust is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
- Walnut
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Spring Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Creek is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Foster Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Foster Creek is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Creek
- Stackhouse
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Stackhouse is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stackhouse
- Bluff
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bluff is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff
- McDowell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buena Vista, with the one closest to Buena Vista listed first.
- Dendron
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Dendron is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dendron
- Moffitt Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Moffitt Hill is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moffitt Hill
- Old Fort
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Lackey Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lackey Town is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackey Town
- Greenlee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Greenlee is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlee
- Providence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Providence is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Sugar Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Sugar Hill is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Hill
- West Marion
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- West Marion is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Marion
- Marion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buena Vista, with the one closest to Buena Vista listed first.
- Melrose
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Melrose is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Columbus
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lynn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lynn is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Mill Spring
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tryon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rutherford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buena Vista, with the one closest to Buena Vista listed first.
- Village of Chimney Rock Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Village of Chimney Rock Village is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village of Chimney Rock Village
- Estimated population in 2015: 108 people
- Chimney Rock
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lake Lure
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Otter Creek ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Otter Creek is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter Creek
- Whitehouse
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Whitehouse is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehouse
- Green Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Green Hill is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Cuba ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Cuba is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Transylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buena Vista, with the one closest to Buena Vista listed first.
- Penrose
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Pisgah Forest
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Seven Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Seven Springs is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Springs
- Brevard
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Mountain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Balsam Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- East Fork
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- East Fork is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
- Yancey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buena Vista, with the one closest to Buena Vista listed first.
- Murchison
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Murchison is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murchison
- Pensacola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pensacola is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pensacola
- Concord
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Concord is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Hamrick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hamrick is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamrick
- Low Gap
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Low Gap is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Gap
- Celo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Celo is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Celo
- Burnsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Higgins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Higgins is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higgins
- Greenville County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Buena Vista, with the one closest to Buena Vista listed first.
- Merrittsville ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Merrittsville is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrittsville
- Caesars Head
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Caesars Head is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caesars Head
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Buena Vista, see our County-by-County Page for Buena Vista.
Cemeteries Near Buena Vista ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Buena Vista.
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 Buena Vista - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Buena Vista covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Buena Vista, with the one closest to Buena Vista listed first.
- Sunset Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- West Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hunter Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Long Shoals Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Williams Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Baker Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside Cemetery
- The Riverside Cemetery has also been known as:
- Asheville Cemetery
- City of Asheville Riverside Cemetery
- Green Hills Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Violet Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Academy Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Calvary Churchyard Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (453 more) ...
- Smith Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rich Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Buena Vista had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Buena Vista, with the one closest to Buena Vista listed first.
- Biltmore
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Biltmore is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biltmore
- Skyland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Busbee
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Busbee is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busbee
- Asheville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Arden
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Azalea
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Azalea is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Azalea
- West Asheville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- West Asheville is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Asheville
- Avery Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Avery Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery Creek
- Murphy Junction
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Murphy Junction is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphy Junction
- Emma
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Emma is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emma
- Sulphur Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Grace
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Grace is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grace
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Acton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Acton is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
- Fletcher
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Fairview
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Buena Vista. See our List of 1890's Communities around Buena Vista.
Newspapers Published in Buena Vista ...
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 87 newspapers that have been published in the area around Buena Vista.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Buena Vista, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Buena Vista.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Buena Vista:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Buncombe County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Haywood County
- Henderson County
- Madison County
- McDowell County
- Polk County
- Rutherford County
- Transylvania County
- Yancey County
- Greenville 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 Buena Vista, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Buena Vista) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |