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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 Flatwood (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 Flatwood. 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 and hospitals 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.

Flatwood is located in Ashe 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 Ashe County: Alleghany, Watauga, Wilkes, Johnson (TN) & Grayson (VA).

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

  • Ashe County     (The home county of Flatwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flatwood, with the one closest to Flatwood listed first.
    • Grayson
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Grayson is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
    • Apple Grove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Apple Grove is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
    • Roten
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Roten is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roten
    • Ashland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Ashland is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Comet
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Comet is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet
    • Brandon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Brandon is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
    • Sturgills
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Sturgills is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgills
    • Creston
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Lansing
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Warrensville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Helton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Helton is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
    • Jefferson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Alleghany County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flatwood, with the one closest to Flatwood listed first.
    • Topia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Topia is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topia
    • Scottville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Piney Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Laurel Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Amelia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Amelia is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelia
    • Sparta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Sparta is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,723 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sparta <1>
  • Avery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flatwood, with the one closest to Flatwood listed first.
    • Mount Gilead
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Mount Gilead is located in Avery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gilead
    • Whaley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Whaley is located in Avery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
    • Beech Mountain
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Seven Devils
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Banner Elk
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Caldwell County
    • Blowing Rock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Watauga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flatwood, with the one closest to Flatwood listed first.
    • Zionville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Mabel
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Mabel is located in Watauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
    • Norris ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Norris is located in Watauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
    • Moretz
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Moretz is located in Watauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moretz
    • Sands
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Sands is located in Watauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
    • Sugar Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Deep Gap
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Laxon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Laxon is located in Watauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laxon
    • Vilas
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Boone
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Boone is located in Watauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 20,003 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boone <1>
    • Rutherwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Rutherwood is located in Watauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherwood
    • Watauga Falls ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Watauga Falls is located in Watauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watauga Falls
  • Wilkes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flatwood, with the one closest to Flatwood listed first.
    • McGrady
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • McGrady is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGrady
    • Springfield ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Springfield is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
    • Wilbar
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Wilbar is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbar
    • Maple Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Maple Springs is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Springs
  • Carter County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flatwood, with the one closest to Flatwood listed first.
    • Buladeen
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Buladeen is located in Carter County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladeen
      • Former names for Buladeen:
      • Colesville
      • Magnetic
    • Fish Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Fish Springs is located in Carter County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Springs
    • Hunter
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Hunter is located in Carter County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
  • Johnson County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flatwood, with the one closest to Flatwood listed first.
    • Dowell ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Dowell is located in Johnson County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowell
      • Estimated population in 2014: 364 people
    • Shingletown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Shingletown is located in Johnson County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shingletown
    • Fuller
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Fuller is located in Johnson County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
    • Mountain City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
    • Trade
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Trade is located in Johnson County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trade
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,441 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Trade <1>
    • Winchester
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Winchester is located in Johnson County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
      • Estimated population in 2014: 8,547 people
    • High Health ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • High Health is located in Johnson County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Health
    • Norris
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Norris is located in Johnson County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,652 people
    • Butler
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Sullivan County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flatwood, with the one closest to Flatwood listed first.
    • Fishdam ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Fishdam is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishdam
    • Holston Valley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Holston Valley is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holston Valley
    • Ruthton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Ruthton is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruthton
    • Hunter Hills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Hunter Hills is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Hills
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,854 people
    • Forest Hills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Forest Hills is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
    • Bristol
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Bristol is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,142 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bristol <1>
    • Cedar Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
  • Bristol City (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flatwood, with the one closest to Flatwood listed first.
    • Virginia Heights
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Virginia Heights is located in Bristol City (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Heights
    • Bristol
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Bristol is located in Bristol City (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,329 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bristol <1>
  • Grayson County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flatwood, with the one closest to Flatwood listed first.
    • Whitetop
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Rugby
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Rugby is located in Grayson County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rugby
    • Trout Dale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Mouth-of-Wilson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Flat Ridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Flat Ridge is located in Grayson County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Ridge
    • Bridle Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Bridle Creek is located in Grayson County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridle Creek
    • Independence
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Elk Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Russell County (VA)
    • Elk Garden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Elk Garden is located in Russell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Garden
  • Smyth County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flatwood, with the one closest to Flatwood listed first.
    • Adwolf
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Adwolf is located in Smyth County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adwolf
    • Chilhowie
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Seven Mile Ford
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Seven Mile Ford is located in Smyth County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Mile Ford
    • Sugar Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Sugar Grove is located in Smyth County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
    • Marion
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Marion is located in Smyth County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,555 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Marion <1>
    • Mount Carmel
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Mount Carmel is located in Smyth County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carmel
    • Saltville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Allison Gap
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Allison Gap is located in Smyth County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allison Gap
    • Cardwell Town
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Cardwell Town is located in Smyth County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardwell Town
    • Atkins
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Broadford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Broadford is located in Smyth County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadford
    • Ellendale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Ellendale is located in Smyth County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
  • Washington County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Flatwood, with the one closest to Flatwood listed first.
    • Green Cove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Green Cove is located in Washington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Cove
    • Damascus
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Damascus is located in Washington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 775 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Damascus <1>
    • Masada
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Masada is located in Washington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masada
    • Drowning Ford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Drowning Ford is located in Washington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drowning Ford
    • Lodi
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Lodi is located in Washington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
    • Loves Mill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Loves Mill is located in Washington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loves Mill
    • Friendship
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Friendship is located in Washington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
    • Alvarado
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Alvarado is located in Washington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
    • Fleet
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Glade Spring
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Watauga
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Watauga is located in Washington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watauga
    • Green Spring
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Green Spring is located in Washington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Spring

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

Cemeteries Near Flatwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Flatwood.

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

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

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

  • Flatwoods Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Letcher Greer Family Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Rufus Lewis Family Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rufus Lewis Family Cemetery
    • The Rufus Lewis Family Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Lewis Family Cemetery
  • Davis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Rye Cove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Solomon Bauguess Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solomon Bauguess Cemetery
    • The Solomon Bauguess Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Bauguess Cemetery
  • Martin Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Shepherd Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Burnt School Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Campbell Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Calhoun Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Calhoun Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (749 more) ...
    • Carpenter Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Walters Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Eldreth Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 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.<2>

While we didn't find Flatwood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Flatwood.

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

  • Grayson
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Grayson is located in Ashe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
  • Whitetop
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Apple Grove
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Apple Grove is located in Ashe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
  • Green Cove
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Green Cove is located in Washington County (VA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Cove
  • Laurel Bloomery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Roten
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Roten is located in Ashe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roten
  • Silver Lake
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Silver Lake is located in Johnson County (TN)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
  • Fig
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Fig is located in Ashe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fig
  • Comet
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Comet is located in Ashe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet
  • Osborn
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Osborn is located in Johnson County (TN)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
  • Creston
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Clifton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Clifton is located in Ashe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Lansing
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Sturgills
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Sturgills is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgills
    • Dresden
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Dresden is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresden

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

Newspapers Published in Flatwood ...

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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around Flatwood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Flatwood, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Flatwood.

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 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 Flatwood:

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 Flatwood, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Flatwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.