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 Echo Park (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 Echo Park. 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.
Echo Park is located in Watauga 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 Watauga County: Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Wilkes & Johnson (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Echo Park. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Echo Park:
- Watauga County (The home county of Echo Park)
- The following are listed by their distance from Echo Park, with the one closest to Echo Park listed first.
- Boone
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bamboo
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bamboo is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamboo
- Shulls Mill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Shulls Mill is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shulls Mill
- Foscoe
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Rutherwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rutherwood is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherwood
- Sands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sands is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Matney
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Matney is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Valle Crucis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Moretz
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Moretz is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moretz
- Norris ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Norris is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Laxon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Laxon is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laxon
- Vilas
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Deep Gap
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Alexander County
- The following are listed by their distance from Echo Park, with the one closest to Echo Park listed first.
- Ellendale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ellendale is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
- Little River
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Little River is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little River
- Bethlehem
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bethlehem is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Liledoun
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Liledoun is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liledoun
- Taylorsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Alleghany County
- Laurel Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ashe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Echo Park, with the one closest to Echo Park listed first.
- Brownwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brownwood is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
- Todd
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Fleetwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Yates
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Yates is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Obids
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Obids is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obids
- Creston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- West Jefferson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ashland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Ashland is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Glendale Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Roten
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Roten is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roten
- Orion
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Orion is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- Wagoner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Wagoner is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wagoner
- Avery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Echo Park, with the one closest to Echo Park listed first.
- Seven Devils
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Grandfather
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Grandfather is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandfather
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
- Sugar Mountain
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Sugar Mountain is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Banner Elk
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Linville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Beech Mountain
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Montezuma
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Montezuma is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
- Pineola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Newland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Vale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Vale is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vale
- Mount Gilead
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Gilead is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gilead
- Crossnore
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Pleasant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Burke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Echo Park, with the one closest to Echo Park listed first.
- Jonas Ridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Chesterfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Chesterfield is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
- Drexel
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Drexel is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drexel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,861 people
- Morganton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Linville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Linville is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Calvin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Calvin is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
- Rutherford College
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Valdese
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Connelly Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Glen Alpine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Magnolia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Magnolia is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Rhodhiss
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Icard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Echo Park, with the one closest to Echo Park listed first.
- Blowing Rock
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Mulberry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mulberry is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Rufus
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rufus is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rufus
- Patterson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Patterson is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Mortimer ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mortimer is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mortimer
- Cilley ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cilley is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cilley
- Collettsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Abingdon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Abingdon is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abingdon
- Adako
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Adako is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adako
- Lenoir
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lenoir is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenoir
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17,911 people
- Former name for Lenoir:
- Tucker's Barn
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lenoir <1>
- Cedar Rock
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- 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
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Emanuel is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emanuel
- Kings Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kings Creek is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Creek
- McDowell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Echo Park, with the one closest to Echo Park listed first.
- Ashford
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Ashford is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
- Little Switzerland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Echo Park, with the one closest to Echo Park listed first.
- Altapass
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Altapass is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altapass
- Spruce Pine
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Grassy Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Grassy Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy Creek
- Penland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bakersville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Little Rock Creek ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Little Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Creek
- Buladean
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Buladean is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladean
- Herrell ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Herrell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
- Wilkes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Echo Park, with the one closest to Echo Park listed first.
- Hendrix ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Hendrix is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
- Maple Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Maple Springs is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Springs
- Ferguson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Mount Pleasant
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Purlear
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Purlear is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purlear
- Wilbar
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Wilbar is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbar
- Boomer
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Boomer is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boomer
- Millers Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Adley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Adley is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adley
- Cricket
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cricket is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket
- Stokes ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Stokes is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Moravian Falls
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- McGrady
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- McGrady is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGrady
- Carter County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Echo Park, with the one closest to Echo Park listed first.
- Shell Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Shell Creek is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shell Creek
- Estimated population in 2014: 21,037 people
- Roan Mountain
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Heaton Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Heaton Creek is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heaton Creek
- Burbank
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Burbank is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burbank
- Fish Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fish Springs is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Springs
- Buladeen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Buladeen is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladeen
- Former names for Buladeen:
- Colesville
- Magnetic
- Hampton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Siam
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Siam is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siam
- Tolley Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Tolley Town is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolley Town
- Johnson County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Echo Park, with the one closest to Echo Park listed first.
- Trade
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Norris
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Norris is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,652 people
- Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
- Dowell ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Dowell is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowell
- Estimated population in 2014: 364 people
- Mountain City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- High Health ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- High Health is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Health
- Butler
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fuller
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Fuller is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Shingletown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Shingletown is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shingletown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Echo Park, see our County-by-County Page for Echo Park.
Cemeteries Near Echo Park ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Echo Park.
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 Echo Park - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Echo Park covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Echo Park, with the one closest to Echo Park listed first.
- Craig Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Moore Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Green Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Frye Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bolick Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Herman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Greene Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bolick Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cone Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Baldwin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- White Spring Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (581 more) ...
- Tolbert Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Estes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Harrison Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Echo Park in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Echo Park.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Echo Park, with the one closest to Echo Park listed first.
- Blowing Rock
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Kelsey
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Kelsey is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsey
- Aho
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Aho is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aho
- Upton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Upton is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upton
- Bamboo
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bamboo is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamboo
- Shulls Mill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Shulls Mill is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shulls Mill
- Boone
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Foscoe
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Globe
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Globe is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Penley ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Penley is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penley
- Triplett
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Triplett is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triplett
- Rutherwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rutherwood is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherwood
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Buffalo Cove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Buffalo Cove is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Cove
- Sands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sands is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Valle Crucis
(8 miles [12.9 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 Echo Park. See our List of 1890's Communities around Echo Park.
Newspapers Published in Echo Park ...
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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Echo Park.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Echo Park, 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 Echo Park.
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 Echo Park:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Watauga County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alexander County
- Alleghany County
- Ashe County
- Avery County
- Burke County
- Caldwell County
- McDowell County
- Mitchell County
- Wilkes County
- Carter County
- Johnson 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> | 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 Echo Park, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Echo Park) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |