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 Providence (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 Providence. 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.
Providence is located in McDowell 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 McDowell County: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Mitchell, Rutherford & Yancey.
Below are the counties that are near Providence. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Providence:
- McDowell County (The home county of Providence)
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- West Marion
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- West Marion is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Marion
- Marion
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sugar Hill is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Hill
- Glenwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Glenwood is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Greenlee
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Greenlee is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlee
- Lackey Town
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Lackey Town is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackey Town
- Vein Mountain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Vein Mountain is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vein Mountain
- Moffitt Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Moffitt Hill is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moffitt Hill
- Old Fort
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Nebo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Patten
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Patten is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patten
- Dendron
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Dendron is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dendron
- Avery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Linville Falls
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Stamey Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Stamey Town is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stamey Town
- Crossnore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Plumtree
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Pineola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Chestnut Dale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Chestnut Dale is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Dale
- Mount Pleasant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Montezuma
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Montezuma is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
- Buncombe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Ridgecrest
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Montreat
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Black Mountain
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Walkertown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Walkertown is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkertown
- Swannanoa
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Fairview
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Wilson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Wilson is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Rockview
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Rockview is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockview
- Riceville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Riceville is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Swannanoa Hills
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Swannanoa Hills is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swannanoa Hills
- Barnardsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Azalea
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Azalea is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Azalea
- Burke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Brindletown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Brindletown is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brindletown
- Linville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Linville is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Parkhill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Parkhill is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkhill
- Rollins ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Rollins is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollins
- Glen Alpine
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Calvin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Calvin is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
- Magnolia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Magnolia is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Salem
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Salem is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Morganton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Enola
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Enola is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enola
- Yellow Gap
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Yellow Gap is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Gap
- Chesterfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Chesterfield is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Adako
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Adako is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adako
- Muttenz ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Muttenz is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muttenz
- Collettsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gamewell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gamewell is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gamewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,993 people
- Mortimer ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mortimer is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mortimer
- Pinehurst
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pinehurst is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehurst
- Cleveland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Cleveland Mills ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Cleveland Mills is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland Mills
- Casar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Delight
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Delight is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delight
- New House
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- New House is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New House
- Olive Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Olive Grove is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olive Grove
- Polkville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Polkville is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 552 people
- Knob Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Knob Creek is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob Creek
- Campcall
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Campcall is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campcall
- Kingstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kingstown is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingstown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
- Mooresboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mooresboro is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooresboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Bat Cave
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Bearwallow
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bearwallow is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearwallow
- Gerton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Baxter
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Baxter is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
- Dana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dana is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- U-No
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- U-No is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for U-No
- Fletcher
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Balfour
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Balfour is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balfour
- Carolina Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Carolina Village is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina Village
- Cumberland Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cumberland Village is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Village
- Mountain Home
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Naples
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Naples is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naples
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Ivy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ivy is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivy
- Bethel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Mars Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Grassy Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Grassy Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy Creek
- Altapass
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Altapass is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altapass
- Spruce Pine
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Penland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bakersville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Red Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Red Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Little Rock Creek ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Little Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Creek
- Herrell ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Herrell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
- Huntdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Huntdale is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntdale
- Relief
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Relief is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Relief
- Tipton Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tipton Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton Hill
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Mill Spring
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Columbus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lynn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lynn is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Rutherford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Whitehouse
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Whitehouse is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehouse
- Otter Creek ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Otter Creek is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter Creek
- Thermal City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Thermal City is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thermal City
- Cuba ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Cuba is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Union Mills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Pisgah ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Pisgah is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pisgah
- Green Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Green Hill is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Lake Lure
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Village of Chimney Rock Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Village of Chimney Rock Village is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village of Chimney Rock Village
- Estimated population in 2015: 108 people
- Chimney Rock
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ruth
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Ruth is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
- Sunshine
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Sunshine is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Yancey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Hamrick
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hamrick is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamrick
- Celo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Celo is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Celo
- Murchison
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Murchison is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murchison
- Newdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Newdale is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newdale
- Micaville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pensacola
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pensacola is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pensacola
- Low Gap
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Low Gap is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Gap
- Concord
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Concord is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Double Island
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Double Island is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Island
- Burnsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Day Book
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Day Book is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day Book
- Green Mountain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Providence, see our County-by-County Page for Providence.
Cemeteries Near Providence ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Providence.
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 Providence - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Providence covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Glades Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Zion Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- West Court Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Ridgway Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Neal Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Glenwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Glenwood Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Glenwood.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1516384 <2>
- Hoover Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lawing Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Siloam Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Haney Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (385 more) ...
- McDowell Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Davistown Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rocky Pass Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Pass Memorial Park
- The Rocky Pass Memorial Park has also been known as:
- Rocky Pass Cemetery
- Rocky Pass Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #48621 <2>
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.<3>
While we didn't find Providence in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Providence.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Sugar Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sugar Hill is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Hill
- Marion
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Greenlee
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Greenlee is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlee
- Vein Mountain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Vein Mountain is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vein Mountain
- Toms Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Toms Creek is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toms Creek
- Old Fort
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Otter Creek ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Otter Creek is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter Creek
- Nebo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dysartsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Dysartsville is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dysartsville
- Dendron
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Dendron is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dendron
- Cuba ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Cuba is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Trio ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Trio is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trio
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Bridgewater
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bridgewater is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgewater
- Brindletown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Brindletown is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brindletown
- North Cove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- North Cove is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cove
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Providence. See our List of 1890's Communities around Providence.
Newspapers Published in Providence ...
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 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Providence.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Providence, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Providence.
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 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 Providence:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to McDowell County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Avery County
- Buncombe County
- Burke County
- Caldwell County
- Cleveland County
- Henderson County
- Madison County
- Mitchell County
- Polk County
- Rutherford County
- Yancey 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> | 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 Providence, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Providence) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |