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 Oak Grove (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 Oak Grove. 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 Oak Grove ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Oakgrove.
- A typical abbreviation for Oak Grove: Oak Grv.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Oak Grove. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Oak Grove.
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 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.
Oak Grove 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 Oak Grove. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oak Grove:
- Watauga County (The home county of Oak Grove)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Boone
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Sands
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sands is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Vilas
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Norris ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Norris is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Sugar Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Shulls Mill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Shulls Mill is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shulls Mill
- Valle Crucis
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Moretz
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Moretz is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moretz
- Foscoe
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bamboo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bamboo is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamboo
- Rutherwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Rutherwood is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherwood
- Matney
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Matney is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Alleghany County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Laurel Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Scottville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Topia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Topia is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topia
- Ashe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Todd
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Brownwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Brownwood is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
- Fleetwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Yates
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Yates is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Creston
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ashland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Ashland is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- West Jefferson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Roten
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Roten is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roten
- Obids
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Obids is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obids
- Jefferson
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Comet
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Comet is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet
- Orion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Orion is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- Avery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Seven Devils
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Banner Elk
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sugar Mountain
(10 miles [16.1 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
- Beech Mountain
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Grandfather
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Grandfather is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandfather
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
- Mount Gilead
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Mount Gilead is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gilead
- Whaley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Whaley is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
- Linville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Montezuma
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Montezuma is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
- Newland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Vale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Vale is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vale
- Elk Park
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Burke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Jonas Ridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chesterfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Chesterfield is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Blowing Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mulberry
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Mulberry is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Mortimer ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Mortimer is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mortimer
- Rufus
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Rufus is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rufus
- Patterson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Patterson is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Cilley ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Cilley is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cilley
- Collettsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Abingdon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Abingdon is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abingdon
- Adako
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Adako is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adako
- Cedar Rock
(23 miles [37 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
- Emanuel ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Emanuel is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emanuel
- Kings Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Kings Creek is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Creek
- McDowell County
- Ashford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ashford is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Altapass
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Altapass is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altapass
- Bakersville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Little Rock Creek ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Little Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Creek
- Buladean
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Buladean is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladean
- Spruce Pine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Grassy Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Grassy Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy Creek
- Herrell ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Herrell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
- Penland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wilkes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Hendrix ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Hendrix is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
- Maple Springs
(18 miles [29 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 southeast)
- Mount Pleasant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Wilbar
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Wilbar is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbar
- Purlear
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Purlear is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purlear
- Millers Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- McGrady
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- McGrady is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGrady
- Boomer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Boomer is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boomer
- Adley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Adley is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adley
- Cricket
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cricket is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket
- Stokes ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Stokes is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Carter County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Shell Creek
(18 miles [29 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
- Fish Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Fish Springs is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Springs
- Roan Mountain
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Heaton Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Heaton Creek is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heaton Creek
- Burbank
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Burbank is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burbank
- Buladeen
(23 miles [37 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Siam
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Siam is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siam
- Hunter
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Hunter is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Tolley Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Tolley Town is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolley Town
- Elizabethton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Gap Run
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Gap Run is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gap Run
- Johnson County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Trade
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Norris
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Norris is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,652 people
- Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
- Dowell ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 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
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Butler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- 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
- Fuller
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Fuller is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Shingletown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Shingletown is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shingletown
- Winchester
(24 miles [38.6 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)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Fishdam ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fishdam is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishdam
- Holston Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Holston Valley is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holston Valley
- Unicoi County (TN)
- Limestone Cove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Limestone Cove is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone Cove
- Grayson County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Whitetop
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Rugby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rugby is located in Grayson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rugby
- Washington County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Green Cove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Green Cove is located in Washington County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Cove
- Damascus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Drowning Ford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Drowning Ford is located in Washington County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drowning Ford
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oak Grove, see our County-by-County Page for Oak Grove.
Cemeteries Near Oak Grove ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oak Grove.
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 Oak Grove - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oak Grove covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Gragg Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hayes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hollars Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Danner Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Piny Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Pitts Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Williams Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Pitts Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Winkler Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hartley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hayes Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Miller Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (687 more) ...
- Barnes Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Adams Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Greer Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Oak Grove in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oak Grove.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Boone
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Sands
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sands is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Vilas
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Valle Crucis
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Shulls Mill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Shulls Mill is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shulls Mill
- Norris ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Norris is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Sugar Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Foscoe
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Soda Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Soda Hill is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soda Hill
- Meat Camp
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Meat Camp is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meat Camp
- Amantha
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Amantha is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amantha
- Blowing Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Aho
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Aho is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aho
- Bamboo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bamboo is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamboo
- Rutherwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Rutherwood is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherwood
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oak Grove. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oak Grove.
Newspapers Published in Oak Grove ...
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 16 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oak Grove.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oak Grove, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oak Grove.
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 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 Oak Grove:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Watauga County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alleghany County
- Ashe County
- Avery County
- Burke County
- Caldwell County
- McDowell County
- Mitchell County
- Wilkes County
- Carter County
- Johnson County
- Sullivan County
- Unicoi County
- Grayson County
- Washington 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> | 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 Oak Grove, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Oak Grove) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |