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 Dillsboro (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 Dillsboro. 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.
Dillsboro is located in Jackson 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 Jackson County: Haywood, Macon, Swain, Transylvania & Oconee (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Dillsboro. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dillsboro:
- Jackson County (The home county of Dillsboro)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dillsboro, with the one closest to Dillsboro listed first.
- Sylva
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Greens Creek
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- Webster
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Wilmot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wilmot is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Addie
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Addie is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
- Gay
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Gay is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
- Cullowhee
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Forest Hills
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- 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>
- Ruby City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Ruby City is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby City
- Paint Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Paint Town is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Town
- Whittier
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- East Laport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Tuckasegee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dillsboro, with the one closest to Dillsboro listed first.
- Topton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Rhodo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Rhodo is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodo
- Graham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dillsboro, with the one closest to Dillsboro listed first.
- Stecoah
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Stecoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stecoah
- Bear Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Bear Creek is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Cheoah
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Cheoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheoah
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dillsboro, with the one closest to Dillsboro listed first.
- Maggie Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hazelwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hazelwood is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Waynesville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lavinia ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lavinia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
- Lake Junaluska
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bethel is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Sonoma ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Sonoma is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- Clyde
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Teague ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Teague is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
- West Canton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- West Canton is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Canton
- Cruso
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Cruso is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruso
- Canton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Morning Star
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Morning Star is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morning Star
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dillsboro, with the one closest to Dillsboro listed first.
- Leatherman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Ellijay
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Franklin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tellico
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tellico is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tellico
- Riverside
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Riverside is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Lickskillet
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Otto
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Fairview
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Fairview is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Scaly Mountain
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Orlando
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Orlando is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Swain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dillsboro, with the one closest to Dillsboro listed first.
- Cherokee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Unahala
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Unahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bryson City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Almond
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Forney ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Forney is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forney
- Judson ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Judson is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Bushnell ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Bushnell is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushnell
- Wesser
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Wesser is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesser
- Nantahala
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Nantahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
- Transylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dillsboro, with the one closest to Dillsboro listed first.
- Sapphire
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Balsam Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Toxaway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Rosman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brevard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rabun County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dillsboro, with the one closest to Dillsboro listed first.
- Sky Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dillard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cocke County (TN)
- Cosby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Sevier County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dillsboro, with the one closest to Dillsboro listed first.
- Elkmont ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Elkmont is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkmont
- Gatlinburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pittman Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Pittman Center is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittman Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 545 people
- Chalet Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- 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 Dillsboro, see our County-by-County Page for Dillsboro.
Cemeteries Near Dillsboro ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dillsboro.
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 Dillsboro - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Dillsboro covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Dillsboro, with the one closest to Dillsboro listed first.
- Parris Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Franklin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Robinson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Cagle Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Dicks Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Keener Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Dills Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Stillwell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Tom Nations Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Love Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lovedale Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Loves Chapel UMC Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (320 more) ...
- Ash Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Dills Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bradley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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, Dillsboro had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Dillsboro had a population of 248 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Dillsboro, with the one closest to Dillsboro listed first.
- Sylva
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Webster
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Beta
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Beta is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beta
- Wilmot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wilmot is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Cullowhee
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Addie
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Addie is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
- East Laport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Whittier
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fallcliff
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Fallcliff is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallcliff
- Cherokee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Birdtown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Birdtown is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdtown
- Leatherman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Tuckasegee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cowarts
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cowarts is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowarts
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Dillsboro. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dillsboro.
Newspapers Published in Dillsboro ...
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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dillsboro.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dillsboro, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dillsboro.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Dillsboro:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Jackson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cherokee County
- Graham County
- Haywood County
- Macon County
- Swain County
- Transylvania County
- Rabun County
- Cocke 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 Dillsboro, 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- Dillsboro) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |