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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Keener (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 Keener. 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.

Keener is located in Sampson County.

To see how the shape of North Carolina's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Sampson County: Bladen, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Johnston, Pender & Wayne.

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

  • Sampson County     (The home county of Keener)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keener, with the one closest to Keener listed first.
    • Beaman Crossroads
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Vann Crossroads
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vann Crossroads have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vann Crossroads
      • Vann Crossroads is located in Sampson County
    • Reynolds Crossroads
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Clinton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Moltonville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Newton Grove
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Bonnetsville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Blackmans Mills
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Beulah
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Elliott
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Elliott. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
      • Elliott is located in Sampson County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Elliott
      • From Keener to Elliott
    • Turkey
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Turkey have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey
      • Turkey is located in Sampson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 292 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Turkey <3>
    • Concord
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Concord have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
      • Concord is located in Sampson County
    • Spiveys Corner
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Bladen County
    • Jerome
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Jerome. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
      • Jerome is located in Bladen County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Jerome
      • From Keener to Jerome
  • Cumberland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keener, with the one closest to Keener listed first.
    • Falcon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Falcon have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falcon
      • Falcon is located in Cumberland County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 250 people
    • Godwin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Stedman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Wade
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Linden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Eastover
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Vander
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vander have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vander
      • Vander is located in Cumberland County
    • Judson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Duplin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keener, with the one closest to Keener listed first.
    • Faison
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Faison have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faison
      • Faison is located in Duplin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 959 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Faison <3>
    • Baltic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Baltic have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltic
      • Baltic is located in Duplin County
    • Bowdens
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bowdens have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowdens
      • Bowdens is located in Duplin County
    • Calypso
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Calypso have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calypso
      • Calypso is located in Duplin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 528 people
    • Warsaw
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Warsaw have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warsaw
      • Warsaw is located in Duplin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,084 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Warsaw <3>
    • Beautancus
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Beautancus. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beautancus
      • Beautancus is located in Duplin County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Beautancus
      • From Keener to Beautancus
    • Everton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Everton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everton
      • Everton is located in Duplin County
    • Friendship
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Friendship. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
      • Friendship is located in Duplin County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Friendship
      • From Keener to Friendship
    • Carroll
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Carroll. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
      • Carroll is located in Duplin County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Carroll
      • From Keener to Carroll
    • Summerlins Crossroads
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Magnolia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Hills Crossroads
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Concord
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Concord have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
      • Concord is located in Duplin County
  • Harnett County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keener, with the one closest to Keener listed first.
    • Grove Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Grove Park have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Park
      • Grove Park is located in Harnett County
    • Dunn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Lakeside Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lakeside Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside Village
      • Lakeside Village is located in Harnett County
    • Averasboro ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Westhaven
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Westhaven have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westhaven
      • Westhaven is located in Harnett County
    • Erwin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Turlington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Turlington. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turlington
      • Turlington is located in Harnett County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Turlington
      • From Keener to Turlington
    • Coats
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Fonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fonville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fonville
      • Fonville is located in Harnett County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Fonville
      • From Keener to Fonville
    • Bunnlevel
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Walkertown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Walkertown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkertown
      • Walkertown is located in Harnett County
  • Johnston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keener, with the one closest to Keener listed first.
    • Harper
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Harper. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
      • Harper is located in Johnston County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Harper
      • From Keener to Harper
    • McKoy
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for McKoy. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKoy
      • McKoy is located in Johnston County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to McKoy
      • From Keener to McKoy
    • Bentonville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bentonville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentonville
      • Bentonville is located in Johnston County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Bentonville
      • From Keener to Bentonville
    • Peacocks Crossroads
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Allens Crossroads
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Benson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Four Oaks
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Four Oaks have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Oaks
      • Four Oaks is located in Johnston County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,387 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Four Oaks <3>
    • Princeton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Princeton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princeton
      • Princeton is located in Johnston County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,425 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Princeton <3>
    • Smithfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Fairfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fairfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
      • Fairfield is located in Johnston County
    • Pine Level
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Rains Crossroads
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Selma
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Keener, with the one closest to Keener listed first.
    • Grantham
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Olive
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Dudley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dudley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
      • Dudley is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dudley <3>
    • Brogden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brogden have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brogden
      • Brogden is located in Wayne County
    • Mar-Mac
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mar-Mac have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mar-Mac
      • Mar-Mac is located in Wayne County
    • Raynor Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Raynor Town have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raynor Town
      • Raynor Town is located in Wayne County
    • Mar-Mac Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mar-Mac Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mar-Mac Village
      • Mar-Mac Village is located in Wayne County
    • Goldsboro
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Seven Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Berkeley Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Berkeley Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkeley Village
      • Berkeley Village is located in Wayne County
    • Elroy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elroy have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elroy
      • Elroy is located in Wayne County
    • Walnut Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Walnut Creek have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Creek
      • Walnut Creek is located in Wayne County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 864 people

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

Cemeteries Near Keener ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Keener.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Keener had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Beaman Crossroads
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Clinton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Newton Grove
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Dobbersville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dobbersville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobbersville
    • Dobbersville is located in Sampson County
  • Elliott
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Elliott. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
    • Elliott is located in Sampson County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Elliott
    • From Keener to Elliott
  • Turkey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Turkey have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey
    • Turkey is located in Sampson County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 292 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Turkey <3>
  • Faison
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Faison have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faison
    • Faison is located in Duplin County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 959 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Faison <3>
  • Blackmans Mills
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Huntley
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Huntley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
    • Huntley is located in Sampson County
  • Timothy
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Timothy have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timothy
    • Timothy is located in Sampson County
  • Bowdens
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bowdens have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowdens
    • Bowdens is located in Duplin County
  • Harper
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Harper. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
    • Harper is located in Johnston County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Harper
    • From Keener to Harper
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Warsaw
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Warsaw have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warsaw
      • Warsaw is located in Duplin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,084 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Warsaw <3>
    • McKoy
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for McKoy. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKoy
      • McKoy is located in Johnston County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to McKoy
      • From Keener to McKoy
    • Roseboro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Keener ...

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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Keener.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Keener, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Keener.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Keener:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Keener. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of North Carolina: https://www.nc.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Keener) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Keener. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 35.1074, Longitude: -78.3190       In this case, the coordinates for Keener have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>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.
<6>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 Keener, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025