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 Monroe (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 Monroe. 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 Monroe ...
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.
In past government published Postal Guides, Monroe was referred to as Monroe Courthouse.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Monroe. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Monroe.
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.
For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.
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 hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the 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.
Monroe is located in Union County and is the County Seat.
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 Union County: Anson, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Stanly, Chesterfield (SC) & Lancaster (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Monroe. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Monroe:
- Union County (The home county of Monroe)
- The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
- Carmel Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Carmel Village is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmel Village
- Unionville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Unionville is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,344 people
- Rock Rest
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Rest is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Rest
- Wingate
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hemby Bridge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hemby Bridge is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemby Bridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,846 people
- Indian Trail
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Park is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,999 people
- Wesley Chapel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Altan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Altan is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altan
- Mineral Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Stallings
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Allens Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Allens Crossroads is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Crossroads
- Anson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
- Peachland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Mineral Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Mineral Springs is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Burnsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Burnsville is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Polkton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Polkton is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,288 people
- Sugar Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Sugar Town is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Town
- Roper ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Roper is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roper
- Ansonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Ansonville is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 586 people
- Wadesboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Jones Creek ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Jones Creek is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Creek
- Cabarrus County
- The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
- Midland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Bosts Mill ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Bosts Mill is located in Cabarrus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bosts Mill
- Georgeville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Georgeville is located in Cabarrus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgeville
- Harrisburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Concord
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Mount Pleasant
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Poplar Tent
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Poplar Tent is located in Cabarrus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Tent
- Cannon Crossroads
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- 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
- Mecklenburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
- Weddington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Matthews
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mint Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Providence ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Providence is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Allen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Allen is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Pineville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Chantilly
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Chantilly is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chantilly
- Belmont
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Belmont is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Charlotte
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Newell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Newell is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell
- Biddleville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Biddleville is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biddleville
- Wilmore
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wilmore is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmore
- Stanly County
- The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
- Stanfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Locust
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Oakboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Red Cross
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Red Cross is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Cross
- Population from the 2020 Census: 769 people
- Lambert
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lambert is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambert
- Bloomington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bloomington is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomington
- Cedar Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Village is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Village
- Millingport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Millingport is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millingport
- Norwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Plyer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Plyer is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plyer
- Chester County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
- Fort Lawn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Edgemoor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lando
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chesterfield County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
- Pageland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- White Plains
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- White Plains is located in Chesterfield County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
- Mount Croghan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Ruby
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ruby is located in Chesterfield County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ruby <1>
- Lancaster County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
- Colonial Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Colonial Village is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
- Indian Land
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Camp Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Camp Creek is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Creek
- Camp Cox
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Camp Cox is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Cox
- Van Wyck
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Union
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Union is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Primus
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Primus is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primus
- Riverside
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Springdell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Springdell is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdell
- Caskey
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Caskey is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caskey
- Lancaster
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Elgin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Elgin is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- York County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
- Fort Mill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Catawba
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Roddey
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Roddey is located in York County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roddey
- Roddey has also been known as:
- Coates Tavern
- Lesslie
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Lesslie is located in York County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lesslie
- Riverview
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Riverview is located in York County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- India Hook
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- India Hook is located in York County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for India Hook
- Rock Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Tega Cay
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Lake Wylie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Newport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Newport is located in York County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Monroe, see our County-by-County Page for Monroe.
Cemeteries Near Monroe ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Monroe.
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 Monroe - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Monroe covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
- Crook Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Lakeland Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Suncrest Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Hill Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Secrest Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Presson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Wingate Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Wesley Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Turner Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (147 more) ...
- Ritch Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bentons Crossroads Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Altan Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Monroe had a population of 1,866 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Monroe had a population of 35,668 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
- Rock Rest
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Rest is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Rest
- Unionville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Unionville is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,344 people
- Stouts
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Stouts is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stouts
- Indian Trail
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Altan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Altan is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altan
- Hoods ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hoods is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoods
- Wolfville ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Wolfville is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfville
- Waxhaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Walkersville ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Walkersville is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkersville
- Matthews
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mint Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Burdett ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Burdett is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdett
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Kingwood ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kingwood is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingwood
- Sardis
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sardis is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
- Dudley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Dudley is located in Chesterfield County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Monroe. See our List of 1890's Communities around Monroe.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Monroe ...
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 14 newspapers that have been published in the area around Monroe.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Monroe. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Monroe and those printed in the larger area surrounding Monroe.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<2> of Monroe.
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 helpful 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 Monroe:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Union County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anson County
- Cabarrus County
- Mecklenburg County
- Stanly County
- Chester County
- Chesterfield County
- Lancaster County
- York 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Monroe) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Monroe, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |