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 Mills (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 Mills. 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 Mills ...
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 Mills: Halls Mls. (or less commonly used: Halls Mlls.)
- While the name of this community is Halls Mills, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Halls Mills may originally have been Hall's Mills.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Halls Mills might be written as Hall Mills.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Halls Mills. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Halls Mills.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.
Halls Mills is located in Wilkes 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 Wilkes County: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Iredell, Surry, Watauga & Yadkin.
Below are the counties that are near Halls Mills. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Halls Mills:
- Wilkes County (The home county of Halls Mills)
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Mills, with the one closest to Halls Mills listed first.
- McGrady
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- McGrady is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGrady
- Dehart
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Dehart is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dehart
- Springfield ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Springfield is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Mulberry
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mulberry is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Wilbar
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wilbar is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbar
- Hays
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Abshers
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Abshers is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abshers
- Moxley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Moxley is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moxley
- Millers Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Fairplains
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fairplains is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairplains
- Cricket
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Cricket is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket
- Purlear
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Purlear is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purlear
- Alexander County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Mills, with the one closest to Halls Mills listed first.
- Vashti
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Vashti is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vashti
- Rocky Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Rocky Springs is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Springs
- Ellendale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ellendale is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
- Taylorsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Hiddenite
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Liledoun
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Liledoun is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liledoun
- Midway
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Midway is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Fairview Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Fairview Park is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Park
- Little River
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Little River is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little River
- Isenhour Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Isenhour Park is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isenhour Park
- Millersville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Millersville is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
- Stony Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Stony Point is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Point
- Alleghany County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Mills, with the one closest to Halls Mills listed first.
- Laurel Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Roaring Gap
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Scottville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sparta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Glade Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Topia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Topia is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topia
- Amelia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Amelia is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelia
- Hooker
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hooker is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Piney Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Ennice
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Edmonds
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Edmonds is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmonds
- Ashe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Mills, with the one closest to Halls Mills listed first.
- Transou
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Transou is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Transou
- Obids
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Obids is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obids
- Glendale Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Wagoner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wagoner is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wagoner
- Orion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Orion is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- Yates
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Yates is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Fleetwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Crumpler
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- West Jefferson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Weavers Ford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Weavers Ford is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weavers Ford
- Brownwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Brownwood is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Mills, with the one closest to Halls Mills listed first.
- Cilley ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cilley is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cilley
- Kings Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Kings Creek is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Creek
- Draco
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Draco is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draco
- Cedar Rock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- 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
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Emanuel is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emanuel
- Blowing Rock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Downsville ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Downsville is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downsville
- Mulberry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mulberry is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Iredell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Mills, with the one closest to Halls Mills listed first.
- New Hope ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- New Hope is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Love Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Union Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Surry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Mills, with the one closest to Halls Mills listed first.
- Thurmond
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Elkin Valley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Elkin Valley is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkin Valley
- State Road
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Devotion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Devotion is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devotion
- Elkin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Mountain Park
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Mountain Park is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Park
- Mulberry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Mulberry is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Zephyr
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Zephyr is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zephyr
- Rusk ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Rusk is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
- Low Gap
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Fairview is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Dobson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Watauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Mills, with the one closest to Halls Mills listed first.
- Stony Fork
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Stony Fork is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Fork
- Deep Gap
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Laxon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Laxon is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laxon
- Moretz
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Moretz is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moretz
- Rutherwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Rutherwood is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherwood
- Bamboo
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Bamboo is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamboo
- Norris ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Norris is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Sands
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Sands is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Boone
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Zionville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Mabel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mabel is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
- Shulls Mill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Shulls Mill is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shulls Mill
- Yadkin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Mills, with the one closest to Halls Mills listed first.
- Swan Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Swan Creek is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Creek
- Arlington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Arlington is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Jonesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Rena
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Rena is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rena
- Cycle
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Cycle is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cycle
- Marler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Marler is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marler
- Windsors Crossroads
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Windsors Crossroads is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsors Crossroads
- Boonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Branon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Branon is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branon
- Hamptonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Johnson County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Mills, with the one closest to Halls Mills listed first.
- Trade
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Dowell ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dowell is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowell
- Estimated population in 2014: 364 people
- Galax City (VA)
- Galax
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Grayson County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Halls Mills, with the one closest to Halls Mills listed first.
- Mouth-of-Wilson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Bridle Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bridle Creek is located in Grayson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridle Creek
- Independence
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Baywood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Baywood is located in Grayson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baywood
- Low Gap
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Low Gap is located in Grayson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Gap
- Rugby
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rugby is located in Grayson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rugby
- Flat Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Flat Ridge is located in Grayson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Ridge
- Elk Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Halls Mills, see our County-by-County Page for Halls Mills.
Cemeteries Near Halls Mills ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Halls Mills.
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 Mills - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Halls Mills covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Halls Mills, with the one closest to Halls Mills listed first.
- Roberts Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Taylor Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Burke Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mountlawn Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Truitt Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Double Creek Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Peak Creek Community Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peak Creek Community Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Peak Creek Community Cemetery is located 5 miles [8 km]<3> to the northeast of Glendale Springs.
- The Peak Creek Community Cemetery has also been known as:
- Peak Creek Church of the Brethren Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2202515 <4>
- Union Tarheel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Johnson Family Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson Family Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Johnson Family Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<3> to the west of Traphill.
- The Johnson Family Cemetery has also been known as:
- Old Johnson Family Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2188960 <4>
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mountain Park Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Park Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mountain Park Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Wilkesboro.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #48172 <4>
- Stamper Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Continue List (412 more) ...
- Cranberry Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranberry Cemetery
- The Cranberry Cemetery has also been known as:
- Cranberry Community Cemetery
- Cranberry Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2207025 <4>
- Long Bottom Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Union Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Halls Mills had a population of 34 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Halls Mills, with the one closest to Halls Mills listed first.
- Hay Meadow ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hay Meadow is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hay Meadow
- Vannoy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Vannoy is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vannoy
- Mulberry
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mulberry is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Dehart
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Dehart is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dehart
- Springfield ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Springfield is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Wilbar
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wilbar is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbar
- Millers Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Fairplains
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fairplains is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairplains
- Dockery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Dockery is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dockery
- Purlear
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Purlear is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purlear
- Cricket
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Cricket is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket
- Laurel Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Parsonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Parsonville is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parsonville
- Joynes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Joynes is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joynes
- Transou
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Transou is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Transou
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Halls Mills. See our List of 1890's Communities around Halls Mills.
Newspapers Published in Halls Mills ...
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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Halls Mills.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Halls Mills, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Halls Mills.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Halls Mills:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Wilkes County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alexander County
- Alleghany County
- Ashe County
- Caldwell County
- Iredell County
- Surry County
- Watauga County
- Yadkin County
- Johnson County
- Galax City
- Grayson 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' (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- Halls Mills) 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 Mills, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |