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 Halls Ford (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 Halls Ford. 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.
Name Variations for Halls Ford ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Halls Ford: Halls Frd.
- While the name of this community is Halls Ford, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Halls Ford may originally have been Hall's Ford.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Halls Ford might be written as Hall Ford.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Halls Ford. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Halls Ford.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 doctors and 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.
Halls Ford is located in Swain 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 Swain County: Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Blount (TN) & Sevier (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Halls Ford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Halls Ford:
- Swain County (The home county of Halls Ford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Ford, with the one closest to Halls Ford listed first.
- Almond
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Wesser
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Wesser is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesser
- Unahala
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Unahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
- Judson ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Judson is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Bryson City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bushnell ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bushnell is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushnell
- Forney ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Forney is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forney
- Nantahala
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Nantahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
- Cherokee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Ford, with the one closest to Halls Ford listed first.
- Topton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rhodo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rhodo is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodo
- Buffalo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Buffalo is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Andrews
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Coalville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Coalville is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Marble
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Boiling Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Boiling Springs is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boiling Springs
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Ford, with the one closest to Halls Ford listed first.
- Elf
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Elf is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elf
- Hayesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Graham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Ford, with the one closest to Halls Ford listed first.
- Stecoah
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Stecoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stecoah
- Bear Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bear Creek is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Cheoah
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cheoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheoah
- Robbinsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fontana Dam
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Fontana Dam is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontana Dam
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6 people
- Fontana Dam has also been known as:
- Fontana Village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fontana Dam <2>
- Yellow Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Yellow Creek is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- Lake Santeetlah
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lake Santeetlah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Santeetlah
- Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
- Lake Santeetlah has also been known as:
- Santeetla
- Santeetlah
- Santultah
- Thunderbird Mountain
- Thunderbird
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Ford, with the one closest to Halls Ford listed first.
- Maggie Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hazelwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hazelwood is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Waynesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Ford, with the one closest to Halls Ford listed first.
- Whittier
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wilmot
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Wilmot is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Dillsboro
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Gay
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Gay is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
- Greens Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- Paint Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Paint Town is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Town
- Sylva
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Webster
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Cullowhee
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Forest Hills
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- 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 <2>
- Addie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Addie is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
- East Laport
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Ford, with the one closest to Halls Ford listed first.
- Tellico
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Tellico is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tellico
- Leatherman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Fairview
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Franklin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ellijay
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Riverside
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Otto
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Lickskillet
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Orlando
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Orlando is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Scaly Mountain
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rabun County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Ford, with the one closest to Halls Ford listed first.
- Dillard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sky Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Mountain City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Towns County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Ford, with the one closest to Halls Ford listed first.
- Tate City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Tate City is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate City
- Hunt ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hunt is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt
- Blount County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Ford, with the one closest to Halls Ford listed first.
- Red Bank
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Red Bank is located in Blount County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Townsend
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Miller Cove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Miller Cove is located in Blount County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller Cove
- Estimated population in 2014: 267 people
- Happy Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Happy Valley is located in Blount County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Happy Valley
- Walland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sevier County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Ford, with the one closest to Halls Ford listed first.
- Elkmont ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Elkmont is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkmont
- Chalet Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Chalet Village is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalet Village
- Gatlinburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Starkeytown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Starkeytown is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starkeytown
- Estimated population in 2014: 431 people
- Wear Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Wear Valley is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wear Valley
- 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
- Pigeon Forge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Waldens Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Waldens Creek is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldens Creek
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Halls Ford, see our County-by-County Page for Halls Ford.
Cemeteries Near Halls Ford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Halls Ford.
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 Halls Ford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Halls Ford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Halls Ford, with the one closest to Halls Ford listed first.
- Brush Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Davis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Lauada Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Truitt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Cochran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Fred Cochran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Brendle Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tabor Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Ledbetter Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Breedlove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Grave Gap Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Windy Gap Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (296 more) ...
- Tabor Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sawyer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jenkins Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
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.<5>
While we didn't find Halls Ford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Halls Ford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Halls Ford, with the one closest to Halls Ford listed first.
- Judson ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Judson is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Bryson City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bushnell ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bushnell is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushnell
- Hewitt
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hewitt is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hewitt
- Leatherman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Nantahala
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Nantahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
- Whittier
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Stecoah
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Stecoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stecoah
- Wilmot
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Wilmot is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Birdtown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Birdtown is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdtown
- Aquone
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Aquone is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquone
- Tuskeegee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Tuskeegee is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuskeegee
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Cherokee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Franklin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Halls Ford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Halls Ford.
Newspapers Published in Halls Ford ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Halls Ford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Halls Ford, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Halls Ford.
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 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 Halls Ford:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Swain County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cherokee County
- Clay County
- Graham County
- Haywood County
- Jackson County
- Macon County
- Rabun County
- Towns County
- Blount County
- Sevier County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for North Carolina
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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- Halls Ford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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. |
| <5> | 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 Halls Ford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |