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 Hankins (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 Hankins. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Hankins is located in McDowell 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 McDowell County: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Mitchell, Rutherford & Yancey.
Below are the counties that are near Hankins. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hankins:
- McDowell County (The home county of Hankins)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Marion
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Nebo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- West Marion
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- West Marion is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Marion
- Providence
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Providence is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Greenlee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Greenlee is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlee
- Glenwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Glenwood is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Little Switzerland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Patten
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Patten is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patten
- Ashford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Ashford is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
- Sugar Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sugar Hill is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Hill
- Lackey Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lackey Town is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackey Town
- Moffitt Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Moffitt Hill is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moffitt Hill
- Avery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Linville Falls
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Stamey Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Stamey Town is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stamey Town
- Crossnore
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Plumtree
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Pineola
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Mount Pleasant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Chestnut Dale
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Chestnut Dale is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Dale
- Montezuma
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Montezuma is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
- Linville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Newland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Minneapolis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Minneapolis is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minneapolis
- Vale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Vale is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vale
- Buncombe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Ridgecrest
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Montreat
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Black Mountain
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Walkertown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Walkertown is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkertown
- Swannanoa
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Rockview
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Rockview is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockview
- Barnardsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Wilson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Wilson is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Fairview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Beech
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Beech is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech
- Riceville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Riceville is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Democrat
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Democrat is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Democrat
- Burke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Linville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Linville is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Parkhill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Parkhill is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkhill
- Glen Alpine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Rollins ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Rollins is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollins
- Brindletown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Brindletown is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brindletown
- Calvin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Calvin is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
- Magnolia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Magnolia is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Morganton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Salem
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Salem is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Jonas Ridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Chesterfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Chesterfield is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
- Enola
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Enola is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enola
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Adako
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Adako is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adako
- Muttenz ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Muttenz is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muttenz
- Collettsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mortimer ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mortimer is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mortimer
- Pinehurst
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Pinehurst is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehurst
- Gamewell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Gamewell is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gamewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,993 people
- Abingdon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Abingdon is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abingdon
- Baton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Baton is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baton
- Cajah's Mountain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cajah's Mountain is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cajah's Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,728 people
- Rufus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rufus is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rufus
- Hudson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hudson is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,703 people
- Former name for Hudson:
- Hudsonville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hudson <1>
- Lenoir
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- 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>
- Cleveland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Cleveland Mills ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cleveland Mills is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland Mills
- Casar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Delight
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Delight is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delight
- Olive Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Olive Grove is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olive Grove
- New House
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- New House is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New House
- Polkville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Polkville is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 552 people
- Knob Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Knob Creek is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob Creek
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Bat Cave
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bearwallow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bearwallow is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearwallow
- Gerton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lincoln County
- Laurel Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Laurel Hill is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Hill
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Bethel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Ivy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Ivy is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivy
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Grassy Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Grassy Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy Creek
- Altapass
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Altapass is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altapass
- Spruce Pine
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Penland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bakersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Little Rock Creek ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Little Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Creek
- Red Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Red Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Herrell ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Herrell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
- Tipton Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Tipton Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton Hill
- Huntdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Huntdale is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntdale
- Relief
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Relief is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Relief
- Bailey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bailey is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
- Rutherford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Thermal City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Thermal City is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thermal City
- Whitehouse
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Whitehouse is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehouse
- Otter Creek ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Otter Creek is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter Creek
- Cuba ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cuba is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Union Mills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Mount Pisgah ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Mount Pisgah is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pisgah
- Green Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Green Hill is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Sunshine
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sunshine is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Village of Chimney Rock Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Lake Lure
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Ruth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Ruth is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
- Chimney Rock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Yancey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Hamrick
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hamrick is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamrick
- Celo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Celo is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Celo
- Newdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Newdale is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newdale
- Micaville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Double Island
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Double Island is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Island
- Pensacola
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Pensacola is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pensacola
- Murchison
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Murchison is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murchison
- Low Gap
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Low Gap is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Gap
- Burnsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Concord
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Concord is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Green Mountain
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Day Book
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Day Book is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day Book
- Carter County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Burbank
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Burbank is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burbank
- Heaton Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Heaton Creek is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heaton Creek
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hankins, see our County-by-County Page for Hankins.
Cemeteries Near Hankins ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hankins.
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 Hankins - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hankins covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Hall Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Barnes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- McDowell Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Green Mtn. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Nebo Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Liberty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- West Court Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hoover Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Washburn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ridgway Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Glades Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (415 more) ...
- Zion Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rocky Pass Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Pass Memorial Park
- The Rocky Pass Memorial Park has also been known as:
- Rocky Pass Cemetery
- Rocky Pass Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #48621 <2>
- Gilead Baptist Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<3>
While we didn't find Hankins in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Hankins.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hankins, with the one closest to Hankins listed first.
- Toms Creek
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Toms Creek is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toms Creek
- Marion
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Nebo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Greenlee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Greenlee is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlee
- North Cove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- North Cove is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cove
- Bridgewater
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Bridgewater is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgewater
- Sugar Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sugar Hill is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Hill
- Ashford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Ashford is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
- Dysartsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dysartsville is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dysartsville
- Old Fort
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Vein Mountain
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Vein Mountain is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vein Mountain
- Glen Alpine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Dendron
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dendron is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dendron
- Spruce Pine
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Brindletown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Brindletown is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brindletown
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hankins. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hankins.
Newspapers Published in Hankins ...
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 46 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hankins.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hankins, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hankins.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Hankins:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to McDowell County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Avery County
- Buncombe County
- Burke County
- Caldwell County
- Cleveland County
- Henderson County
- Lincoln County
- Madison County
- Mitchell County
- Rutherford County
- Yancey County
- Carter 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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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 Hankins, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Hankins) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |