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 Loray (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 Loray. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.
Loray is located in Iredell 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 Iredell County: Alexander, Cabarrus, Catawba, Davie, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan & Yadkin.
Below are the counties that are near Loray. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Loray:
- Iredell County (The home county of Loray)
- The following are listed by their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Scotts
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Scotts is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts
- Statesville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Brevard ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Brevard is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevard
- Eufola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Eufola is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eufola
- Barium Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Barium Springs is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barium Springs
- Belmont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Belmont is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Troutman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Love Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Olin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Olin is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olin
- Turnersburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Turnersburg is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnersburg
- Ostwalt
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ostwalt is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ostwalt
- Cool Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Cool Springs is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool Springs
- New Hope ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- New Hope is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Alexander County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Stony Point
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Stony Point is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Point
- Fairview Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview Park is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Park
- Hiddenite
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Midway
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Midway is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Rocky Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rocky Springs is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Springs
- Isenhour Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Isenhour Park is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isenhour Park
- Millersville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Millersville is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
- Taylorsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Taylorsville Beach
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Taylorsville Beach is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville Beach
- Vashti
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vashti is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vashti
- Liledoun
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Liledoun is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liledoun
- Ellendale
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Ellendale is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
- Bethlehem
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bethlehem is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Burke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Hildebran
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Rhodhiss
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Icard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Connelly Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cabarrus County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Fisher Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fisher Town is located in Cabarrus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher Town
- Tulin ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tulin is located in Cabarrus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulin
- Cannon Crossroads
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cannon Crossroads is located in Cabarrus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon Crossroads
- Cannon Crossroads has also been known as:
- Cannon Cross Roads
- Cannon's Crossroads
- Wallace Cross Roads
- Wallace Crossroads
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Concord ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Concord is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Downsville ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Downsville is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downsville
- Northlakes
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Northlakes is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northlakes
- Draco
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Draco is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draco
- Granite Falls
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Kings Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kings Creek is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Creek
- Cedar Rock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- 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
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Emanuel is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emanuel
- Sawmills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Sawmills is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,156 people
- Hudson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- 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>
- Catawba County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Sunrise Beach
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sunrise Beach is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunrise Beach
- Long Island
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Long Island is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Island
- Catawba
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Catfish
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Catfish is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catfish
- Monbo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Monbo is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monbo
- Murrays Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Murrays Hill is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murrays Hill
- Claremont
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oxford Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Oxford Park is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Park
- Sherrills Ford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bandy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bandy is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bandy
- Witherspoon Crossroad
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Norman of Catawba
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Conover
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Davie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Calahaln
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Calahaln is located in Davie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calahaln
- Cooleemee
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Ephesus
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Ephesus is located in Davie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ephesus
- Mocksville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Pino
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pino is located in Davie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pino
- Clinton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Clinton is located in Davie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Gaston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Alexis
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Alexis is located in Gaston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexis
- Lucia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Lucia is located in Gaston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucia
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Denver
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Westport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Westport is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
- Triangle ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Triangle is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triangle
- Machpelah
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Machpelah is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Machpelah
- Boger City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Boger City is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boger City
- Iron Station
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Iron Station is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Station
- Lowesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lowesville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowesville
- Lincolnton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Vale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mecklenburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- River View ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- River View is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River View
- Cornelius
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Davidson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Huntersville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rowan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Pittsburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Pittsburg is located in Rowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
- Cleveland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Mount Ulla
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Vernon
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Mount Vernon is located in Rowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Needmore
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Needmore is located in Rowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
- Bear Poplar
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bear Poplar is located in Rowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Poplar
- Barber
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Barber is located in Rowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barber
- Woodleaf
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Mill Bridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mill Bridge is located in Rowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Bridge
- Harts ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Harts is located in Rowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harts
- Watson Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Watson Village is located in Rowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson Village
- Five Points
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Five Points is located in Rowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Corriher Heights
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Corriher Heights is located in Rowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corriher Heights
- Wilkes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Zimmerman ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Zimmerman is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimmerman
- New Castle ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- New Castle is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Castle
- Moravian Falls
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Boomer
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Boomer is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boomer
- Clingman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Clingman is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clingman
- Fletcher ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Fletcher is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
- Adley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Adley is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adley
- North Wilkesboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wilkesboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brier Creek ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Brier Creek is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brier Creek
- Henderson ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Henderson is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson
- Roaring River
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Roaring River is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaring River
- Stokes ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Stokes is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Yadkin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Windsors Crossroads
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Windsors Crossroads is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsors Crossroads
- Marler
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Marler is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marler
- Footville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Footville is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footville
- Hamptonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cycle
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cycle is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cycle
- Branon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Branon is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branon
- Swan Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Swan Creek is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Creek
- Courtney
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Courtney is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Courtney
- Rena
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Rena is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rena
- Wyo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wyo is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyo
- Yadkinville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Arlington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Arlington is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Jonesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Loray, see our County-by-County Page for Loray.
Cemeteries Near Loray ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Loray.
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 Loray - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Loray covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Beulah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fourth Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Tabernacle Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- New Salem Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Martins Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Iredell Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Marvin UMC Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Troutman Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Belmont Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (156 more) ...
- Smyres Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Brooks Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Concord Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
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 Loray in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Loray.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Loray, with the one closest to Loray listed first.
- Scotts
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Scotts is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts
- Watts ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Watts is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watts
- Statesville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Stony Point
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Stony Point is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Point
- Snow Creek ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Snow Creek is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Creek
- Barium Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Barium Springs is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barium Springs
- Catfish
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Catfish is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catfish
- Catawba
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Troutman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hiddenite
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Monbo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Monbo is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monbo
- Turnersburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Turnersburg is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnersburg
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Olin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Olin is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olin
- Elmwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Elmwood is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
- Bandy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bandy is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bandy
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Loray. See our List of 1890's Communities around Loray.
Newspapers Published in Loray ...
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 50 newspapers that have been published in the area around Loray.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Loray, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Loray.
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 Loray:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Iredell County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alexander County
- Burke County
- Cabarrus County
- Caldwell County
- Catawba County
- Davie County
- Gaston County
- Lincoln County
- Mecklenburg County
- Rowan County
- Wilkes County
- Yadkin 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Loray) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Loray, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |