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 Cowee (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 Cowee. 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 hospitals and 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.
Cowee 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 Cowee. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cowee:
- Macon County (The home county of Cowee)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cowee, with the one closest to Cowee listed first.
- Leatherman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Franklin
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Tellico
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Tellico is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tellico
- Ellijay
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Riverside
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Riverside is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Fairview
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Fairview is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Otto
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Lickskillet
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Orlando
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Orlando is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Scaly Mountain
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cowee, with the one closest to Cowee listed first.
- Topton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Rhodo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Rhodo is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodo
- Buffalo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Buffalo is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Andrews
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Coalville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Coalville is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Marble
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cowee, with the one closest to Cowee listed first.
- Elf
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Elf is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elf
- Hayesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Graham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cowee, with the one closest to Cowee listed first.
- Stecoah
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Stecoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stecoah
- Bear Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Bear Creek is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Cheoah
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Cheoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheoah
- Robbinsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Fontana Dam
(26 miles [41.8 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
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Yellow Creek is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- Lake Santeetlah
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- 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
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cowee, with the one closest to Cowee listed first.
- Maggie Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hazelwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hazelwood is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Waynesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lavinia ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lavinia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cowee, with the one closest to Cowee listed first.
- Gay
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Gay is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
- Greens Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- Dillsboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wilmot
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wilmot is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Forest Hills
(12 miles [19.3 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>
- Whittier
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Sylva
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Webster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Cullowhee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Erastus
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Erastus is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erastus
- East Laport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Paint Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Paint Town is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Town
- Glenville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Swain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cowee, with the one closest to Cowee listed first.
- Unahala
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Unahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
- Bryson City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Almond
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wesser
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wesser is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesser
- Judson ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Judson is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Forney ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Forney is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forney
- Nantahala
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Nantahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
- Cherokee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Bushnell ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bushnell is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushnell
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Transylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cowee, with the one closest to Cowee listed first.
- Sapphire
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Toxaway
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Balsam Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rabun County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cowee, with the one closest to Cowee listed first.
- Sky Valley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Dillard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Mountain City
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Germany
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Germany is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germany
- Antioch
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Antioch is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Clayton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Tiger
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Towns County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cowee, with the one closest to Cowee listed first.
- Tate City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tate City is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate City
- Hunt ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hunt is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt
- Hiawassee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oconee County (SC)
- Mountain Rest
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sevier County (TN)
- Elkmont ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Elkmont is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkmont
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cowee, see our County-by-County Page for Cowee.
Cemeteries Near Cowee ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cowee.
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 Cowee - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cowee covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cowee, with the one closest to Cowee listed first.
- Shepherd Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Fout Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lakey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Morgan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Tabor Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Tellico Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Tippet Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Truitt Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Angel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Wells Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (281 more) ...
- Cochran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fred Cochran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- New Savannah Baptist Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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>
While we didn't find Cowee in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Cowee.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cowee, with the one closest to Cowee listed first.
- Leatherman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Franklin
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cullasaja
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cullasaja is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullasaja
- Ellijay
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Bryson City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Dillsboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wilmot
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wilmot is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Aquone
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Aquone is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquone
- Fallcliff
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Fallcliff is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallcliff
- Webster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Sylva
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Whittier
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Cullowhee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Judson ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Judson is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Hewitt
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Hewitt is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hewitt
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cowee. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cowee.
Newspapers Published in Cowee ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cowee.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cowee, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cowee.
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 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 Cowee:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Macon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cherokee County
- Clay County
- Graham County
- Haywood County
- Jackson County
- Swain County
- Transylvania County
- Rabun County
- Towns County
- Oconee 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Cowee) 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 Cowee, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |