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 Piney Woods (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 Piney Woods. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Piney Woods is located in Transylvania 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 Transylvania County: Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Greenville (SC), Oconee (SC) & Pickens (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Piney Woods. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Piney Woods:
- Transylvania County (The home county of Piney Woods)
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- East Fork
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- East Fork is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
- Rosman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Cedar Mountain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Brevard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Balsam Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Toxaway
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Pisgah Forest
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Seven Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Seven Springs is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Springs
- Penrose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sapphire
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Buncombe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Avery Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Avery Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery Creek
- Glady
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Glady is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glady
- Arden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bent Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bent Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Creek
- Candler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Royal Pines
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Royal Pines is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Pines
- Enka Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Enka Village is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enka Village
- Busbee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Busbee is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busbee
- Skyland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Enka
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Acton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Acton is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
- Biltmore Forest
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Biltmore Forest is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biltmore Forest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,431 people
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Cruso
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Cruso is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruso
- Lavinia ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lavinia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
- Sonoma ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sonoma is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- Bethel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bethel is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Morning Star
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Morning Star is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morning Star
- Hazelwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hazelwood is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Canton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Waynesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Clyde
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lake Junaluska
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- West Canton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- West Canton is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Canton
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Etowah
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Holly Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Holly Springs is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Mount Olive
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Mount Olive is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Horse Shoe
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Laurel Park
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sky Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sky Village is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sky Village
- Valley Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Valley Hill is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Hill
- Tuxedo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Claremont
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Claremont is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
- Flat Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mills River
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Timberland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Timberland is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberland
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Argura
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Argura is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argura
- Cashiers
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Glenville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Tuckasegee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- East Laport
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Erastus
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Erastus is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erastus
- Highlands
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Cullowhee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ruby City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ruby City is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby City
- Balsam
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Hills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Hills is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
- Forest Hills has also been known as:
- Forest Hills village
- Village of Forest Hills
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Forest Hills <1>
- Addie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Addie is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Ellijay
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Lickskillet
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Melrose
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Melrose is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Tryon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Anderson County (SC)
- Powderville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Powderville is located in Anderson County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderville
- Greenville County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Caesars Head
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Caesars Head is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caesars Head
- Cleveland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Marietta
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Slater
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Merrittsville ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Merrittsville is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrittsville
- Travelers Rest
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tigerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Highland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Highland is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Berea
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Berea is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berea
- Parker
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Parker is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
- Sans Souci
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sans Souci is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sans Souci
- City View
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- City View is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for City View
- Oconee County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Salem
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tamassee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mountain Rest
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Newry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Walhalla
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- West Union
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pickens County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Rocky Bottom
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Rocky Bottom is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Bottom
- Knob ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Knob is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
- Sunset
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Crow Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Crow Creek is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Creek
- Nine Times
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Nine Times is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Times
- Pickens
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dacusville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Dacusville is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dacusville
- Arial
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Arial is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arial
- Six Mile
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Easley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Norris
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Piney Woods, see our County-by-County Page for Piney Woods.
Cemeteries Near Piney Woods ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Piney Woods.
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 Piney Woods - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Piney Woods covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- Gillespie Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Whitmire Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Middle Fork Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Masters Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cassell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Holden Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- McGaha Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Round Top Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Cooper Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Glazener Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Rocky Bottom Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (362 more) ...
- Wilson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Evergreen Gillespie Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Saluda Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
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 Piney Woods in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Piney Woods.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Piney Woods, with the one closest to Piney Woods listed first.
- East Fork
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- East Fork is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
- Cherryfield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cherryfield is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryfield
- Cedar Mountain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Brevard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Caesars Head
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Caesars Head is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caesars Head
- Balsam Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Davidson River
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Davidson River is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davidson River
- Nimmons
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Nimmons is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nimmons
- Knob ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Knob is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
- Wattacoo ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wattacoo is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattacoo
- Penrose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Riverview
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Riverview is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Wolf Mountain
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wolf Mountain is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Mountain
- Jocassee ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jocassee is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jocassee
- Eastatoe
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Eastatoe is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastatoe
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Piney Woods. See our List of 1890's Communities around Piney Woods.
Newspapers Published in Piney Woods ...
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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Piney Woods.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Piney Woods, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Piney Woods.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Piney Woods:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Transylvania County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buncombe County
- Haywood County
- Henderson County
- Jackson County
- Macon County
- Polk County
- Anderson County
- Greenville County
- Oconee County
- Pickens 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 Piney Woods, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Piney Woods) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |