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 Hounds Ear (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 Hounds Ear. 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 Hounds Ear ...
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.
While the name of this community is Hounds Ear, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Hounds Ear may originally have been Hound's Ear.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Hounds Ear might be written as Hound Ear.
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.
Hounds Ear is located in Watauga 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 Watauga County: Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Wilkes & Johnson (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Hounds Ear. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hounds Ear:
- Watauga County (The home county of Hounds Ear)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Shulls Mill
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Shulls Mill is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shulls Mill
- Foscoe
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Valle Crucis
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Matney
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Matney is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Vilas
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Boone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rominger
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rominger is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rominger
- Sugar Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bamboo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bamboo is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamboo
- Sands
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sands is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Watauga Falls ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Watauga Falls is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watauga Falls
- Norris ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Norris is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Ashe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Brownwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Brownwood is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
- Todd
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fleetwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Yates
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Yates is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Ashland
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Ashland is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Creston
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- West Jefferson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Roten
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Roten is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roten
- Obids
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Obids is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obids
- Jefferson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Comet
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Comet is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet
- Glendale Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Avery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Seven Devils
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Grandfather
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Grandfather is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandfather
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
- Sugar Mountain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sugar Mountain is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Banner Elk
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Beech Mountain
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Linville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Gilead
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Gilead is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gilead
- Montezuma
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Montezuma is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
- Whaley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Whaley is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
- Newland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Vale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Vale is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vale
- Elk Park
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Burke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Jonas Ridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Chesterfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Chesterfield is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
- Linville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Linville is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Calvin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Calvin is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
- Drexel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Drexel is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drexel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,861 people
- Morganton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Blowing Rock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mulberry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mulberry is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Mortimer ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Mortimer is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mortimer
- Rufus
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rufus is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rufus
- Patterson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Patterson is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Collettsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cilley ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cilley is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cilley
- Adako
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Adako is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adako
- Muttenz ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Muttenz is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muttenz
- Abingdon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Abingdon is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abingdon
- Lenoir
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- 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 <2>
- Cedar Rock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- 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
- McDowell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Ashford
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Ashford is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
- Little Switzerland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Altapass
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Altapass is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altapass
- Little Rock Creek ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Little Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Creek
- Bakersville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Spruce Pine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Buladean
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Buladean is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladean
- Grassy Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Grassy Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy Creek
- Penland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Herrell ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Herrell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
- Red Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Red Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Tipton Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Tipton Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton Hill
- Wilkes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Hendrix ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Hendrix is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
- Maple Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Maple Springs is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Springs
- Ferguson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Mount Pleasant
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Purlear
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Purlear is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purlear
- Wilbar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wilbar is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbar
- Boomer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Boomer is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boomer
- Millers Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Adley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Adley is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adley
- Cricket
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cricket is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket
- McGrady
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- McGrady is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGrady
- Stokes ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Stokes is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Yancey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Double Island
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Double Island is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Island
- Newdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Newdale is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newdale
- Carter County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Shell Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Shell Creek is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shell Creek
- Estimated population in 2014: 21,037 people
- Heaton Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Heaton Creek is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heaton Creek
- Roan Mountain
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Fish Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Fish Springs is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Springs
- Burbank
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Burbank is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burbank
- Buladeen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Buladeen is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladeen
- Former names for Buladeen:
- Colesville
- Magnetic
- Hampton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Siam
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Siam is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siam
- Hunter
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hunter is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Tolley Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Tolley Town is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolley Town
- Gap Run
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Gap Run is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gap Run
- Woodby Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Woodby Hill is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodby Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,730 people
- Johnson County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Trade
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Norris
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Norris is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,652 people
- Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
- High Health ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- High Health is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Health
- Dowell ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Dowell is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowell
- Estimated population in 2014: 364 people
- Mountain City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Butler
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fuller
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Fuller is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Shingletown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Shingletown is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shingletown
- Winchester
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Winchester is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Estimated population in 2014: 8,547 people
- Sullivan County (TN)
- Fishdam ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fishdam is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishdam
- Unicoi County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Limestone Cove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Limestone Cove is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone Cove
- Whispering Pines
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Whispering Pines is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Pines
- Grayson County (VA)
- Whitetop
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Washington County (VA)
- Green Cove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Green Cove is located in Washington County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Cove
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hounds Ear, see our County-by-County Page for Hounds Ear.
Cemeteries Near Hounds Ear ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hounds Ear.
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 Hounds Ear - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hounds Ear covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Coffey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Shull Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- White Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Byrd Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Calloway Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Piny Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Shull Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Byrd Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Foscoe Community Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Shook Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Williams Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Pitts Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (689 more) ...
- Mast Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Danner Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Greer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<4>
While we didn't find Hounds Ear in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Hounds Ear.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hounds Ear, with the one closest to Hounds Ear listed first.
- Shulls Mill
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Shulls Mill is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shulls Mill
- Foscoe
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Valle Crucis
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kelsey
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Kelsey is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsey
- Vilas
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Blowing Rock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Boone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Amantha
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Amantha is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amantha
- Upton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Upton is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upton
- Aho
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Aho is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aho
- Bamboo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bamboo is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamboo
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Sands
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sands is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Watauga Falls ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Watauga Falls is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watauga Falls
- Sweetwater
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Sweetwater is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetwater
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hounds Ear. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hounds Ear.
Newspapers Published in Hounds Ear ...
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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hounds Ear.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hounds Ear, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hounds Ear.
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 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 Hounds Ear:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Watauga County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Ashe County
- Avery County
- Burke County
- Caldwell County
- McDowell County
- Mitchell County
- Wilkes County
- Yancey County
- Carter County
- Johnson County
- Sullivan County
- Unicoi County
- Grayson County
- Washington 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> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Hounds Ear, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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- Hounds Ear) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |