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 Etowah (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 Etowah. 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 hospitals 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.
Etowah is located in Henderson 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 Henderson County: Buncombe, Haywood, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania & Greenville (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Etowah. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Etowah:
- Henderson County (The home county of Etowah)
- The following are listed by their distance from Etowah, with the one closest to Etowah listed first.
- Holly Springs
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Holly Springs is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Horse Shoe
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sky Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sky Village is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sky Village
- Laurel Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mills River
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Timberland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Timberland is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberland
- Valley Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Valley Hill is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Hill
- Mountain Home
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Balfour
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Balfour is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balfour
- Hendersonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pinehurst
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pinehurst is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehurst
- Willow Bend
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Willow Bend is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Bend
- Naples
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Naples is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naples
- Buncombe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etowah, with the one closest to Etowah listed first.
- Avery Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Avery Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery Creek
- Royal Pines
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Royal Pines is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Pines
- Arden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Skyland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Bent Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Bent Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Creek
- Busbee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Busbee is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busbee
- Biltmore Forest
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Biltmore Forest is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biltmore Forest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,431 people
- Enka Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Enka Village is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enka Village
- Glady
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Glady is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glady
- Candler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Enka
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Shiloh
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Shiloh is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Acton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Acton is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etowah, with the one closest to Etowah listed first.
- Cruso
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cruso is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruso
- Morning Star
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Morning Star is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morning Star
- Sonoma ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sonoma is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- Bethel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Canton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lavinia ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lavinia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
- West Canton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- West Canton is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Canton
- Clyde
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Hazelwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hazelwood is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Lake Junaluska
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Waynesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Maggie Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etowah, with the one closest to Etowah listed first.
- Argura
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Argura is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argura
- Balsam
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Ruby City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Ruby City is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby City
- Tuckasegee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- McDowell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etowah, with the one closest to Etowah listed first.
- Dendron
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dendron is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dendron
- Moffitt Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Moffitt Hill is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moffitt Hill
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etowah, with the one closest to Etowah listed first.
- Melrose
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Melrose is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Lynn
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lynn is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Tryon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Columbus
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Mill Spring
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Rutherford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etowah, with the one closest to Etowah listed first.
- Village of Chimney Rock Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- 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
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Lure
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Transylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etowah, with the one closest to Etowah listed first.
- Penrose
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pisgah Forest
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Seven Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Seven Springs is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Springs
- Brevard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Mountain
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- East Fork
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Fork is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
- Balsam Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Rosman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Toxaway
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Sapphire
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Greenville County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Etowah, with the one closest to Etowah listed first.
- Caesars Head
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Caesars Head is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caesars Head
- Merrittsville ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Merrittsville is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrittsville
- Cleveland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Slater
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Marietta
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Tigerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Highland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Highland is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Travelers Rest
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Gowensville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gowensville is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowensville
- O'Neal
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- O'Neal is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neal
- Berea
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Berea is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berea
- Pickens County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Etowah, with the one closest to Etowah listed first.
- Knob ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Knob is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
- Rocky Bottom
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rocky Bottom is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Bottom
- Dacusville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dacusville is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dacusville
- Sunset
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Crow Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Crow Creek is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Creek
- Pickens
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Spartanburg County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Etowah, with the one closest to Etowah listed first.
- Landrum
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Landrum is located in Spartanburg County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landrum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,725 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Landrum <1>
- Campobello
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gramling
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Etowah, see our County-by-County Page for Etowah.
Cemeteries Near Etowah ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Etowah.
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 Etowah - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Etowah covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Etowah, with the one closest to Etowah listed first.
- Oak Forest Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Orr Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Aiken Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Old Beulah Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Fletcher Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Justus Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Beulah Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sentell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- McCall Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mills River Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sentell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (298 more) ...
- Patterson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sitton - Gillespie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Turkey Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
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 Etowah in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Etowah.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Etowah, with the one closest to Etowah listed first.
- Bowman Bluff
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bowman Bluff is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowman Bluff
- Horse Shoe
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Penrose
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mills River
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Davidson River
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Davidson River is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davidson River
- Hendersonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Brevard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Flat Rock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Fletcher
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Avery Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Avery Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery Creek
- Zirconia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Upward
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Upward is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upward
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Arden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Mountain
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Fruitland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fruitland is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Etowah. See our List of 1890's Communities around Etowah.
Newspapers Published in Etowah ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Etowah.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Etowah, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Etowah.
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 Etowah:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Henderson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buncombe County
- Haywood County
- Jackson County
- McDowell County
- Polk County
- Rutherford County
- Transylvania County
- Greenville County
- Pickens County
- Spartanburg 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 Etowah, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Etowah) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |