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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 Draco (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 Draco. 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 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.

Draco is located in Caldwell 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 Caldwell County: Alexander, Burke, Catawba, Watauga & Wilkes.

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

  • Caldwell County     (The home county of Draco)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Draco, with the one closest to Draco listed first.
    • Kings Creek
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Downsville ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Downsville is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downsville
    • Cedar Rock
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Cedar Rock is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Rock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
      • Cedar Rock has also been known as:
      • Cedar Rock village
    • Emanuel ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Emanuel is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emanuel
    • Cilley ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Cilley is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cilley
    • Lenoir
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Hudson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Concord ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Concord is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Granite Falls
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Cajah's Mountain
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Cajah's Mountain is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cajah's Mountain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,728 people
    • Sawmills
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Sawmills is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,156 people
    • Patterson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Alexander County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Draco, with the one closest to Draco listed first.
    • Little River
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Little River is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little River
    • Ellendale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Liledoun
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Liledoun is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liledoun
    • Bethlehem
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Bethlehem is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
    • Taylorsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Isenhour Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Isenhour Park is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isenhour Park
    • Millersville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Millersville is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
    • Taylorsville Beach
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Taylorsville Beach is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville Beach
    • Fairview Park
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Fairview Park is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Park
    • Midway
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Midway is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Rocky Springs
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Rocky Springs is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Springs
    • Hiddenite
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Ashe County
  • Avery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Draco, with the one closest to Draco listed first.
    • Seven Devils
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Grandfather
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Linville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Pineola
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Sugar Mountain
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Sugar Mountain is located in Avery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Mountain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
    • Crossnore
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Montezuma
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Montezuma is located in Avery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
  • Burke County
  • Catawba County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Draco, with the one closest to Draco listed first.
    • North Hickory
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • North Hickory is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hickory
    • Viewmont
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Viewmont is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viewmont
    • Saint Stephens
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Saint Stephens is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Stephens
    • Hickory
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Long View
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Long View is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long View
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,951 people
    • Sweetwater
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Sweetwater is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetwater
    • Brookford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Brookford is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 381 people
    • Fairbrook
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Fairbrook is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbrook
    • Mountain View
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Mountain View is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain View
    • Fairgrove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairgrove is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairgrove
    • Oxford Park
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Oxford Park is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Park
    • Conover
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Cleveland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Draco, with the one closest to Draco listed first.
    • Olive Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Olive Grove is located in Cleveland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olive Grove
    • Toluca
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Toluca is located in Cleveland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toluca
  • Iredell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Draco, with the one closest to Draco listed first.
    • Brevard ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Brevard is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevard
    • Love Valley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Scotts
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Scotts is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts
    • New Hope ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Eufola
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Statesville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Union Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Olin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Olin is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olin
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Draco, with the one closest to Draco listed first.
    • Henry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Laurel Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Laurel Hill is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Hill
    • Vale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Hulls Crossroads
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Watauga County
  • Wilkes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Draco, with the one closest to Draco listed first.
    • Ferguson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Boomer
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Boomer is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boomer
    • Hendrix ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Hendrix is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
    • Mount Pleasant
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
    • Moravian Falls
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Maple Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Maple Springs is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Springs
    • Adley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Purlear
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Purlear is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purlear
    • Stokes ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Stokes is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
    • Millers Creek
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Wilkesboro
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Cricket
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Cricket is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket

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

Cemeteries Near Draco ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Draco.

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

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

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

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 in 1895, Draco had a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Draco, with the one closest to Draco listed first.

  • Cedar Valley
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Cedar Valley is located in Caldwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
  • Kings Creek
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Downsville ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Downsville is located in Caldwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downsville
  • Emanuel ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Emanuel is located in Caldwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emanuel
  • Little River
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Little River is located in Alexander County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little River
  • Ellendale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Hibriten ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Hibriten is located in Caldwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hibriten
  • Petra Mills
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Petra Mills is located in Caldwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petra Mills
  • Lenoir
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Cilley ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Cilley is located in Caldwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cilley
  • Yadkin Valley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Yadkin Valley is located in Caldwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yadkin Valley
  • Elkville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Elkville is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkville
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Draco ...

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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Draco.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Draco, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Draco.

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 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 Draco:

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 'straight-line' (or 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- Draco) 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 Draco, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.