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 Purlear (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 Purlear. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Purlear is located in Wilkes 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 Wilkes County: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Iredell, Surry, Watauga & Yadkin.
Below are the counties that are near Purlear. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Purlear:
- Wilkes County (The home county of Purlear)
- The following are listed by their distance from Purlear, with the one closest to Purlear listed first.
- Millers Creek
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Mount Pleasant
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Wilbar
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Wilbar is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbar
- Cricket
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cricket is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket
- Adley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Adley is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adley
- Stokes ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Stokes is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Maple Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Maple Springs is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Springs
- Fairplains
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Fairplains is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairplains
- North Wilkesboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Wilkesboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mulberry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mulberry is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Hendrix ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hendrix is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
- Alexander County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purlear, with the one closest to Purlear listed first.
- Vashti
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Vashti is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vashti
- Ellendale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Ellendale is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
- Taylorsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Rocky Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Rocky Springs is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Springs
- Liledoun
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Liledoun is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liledoun
- Little River
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Little River is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little River
- Midway
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Midway is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Isenhour Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Isenhour Park is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isenhour Park
- Fairview Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview Park is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Park
- Hiddenite
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Millersville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Millersville is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
- Bethlehem
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bethlehem is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Alleghany County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purlear, with the one closest to Purlear listed first.
- Laurel Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Scottville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Roaring Gap
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sparta
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Topia
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Topia is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topia
- Glade Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Amelia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Amelia is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelia
- Piney Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Hooker
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hooker is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Ennice
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ashe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purlear, with the one closest to Purlear listed first.
- Obids
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Obids is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obids
- Glendale Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Yates
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Yates is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Transou
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Transou is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Transou
- Fleetwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wagoner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Wagoner is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wagoner
- Brownwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brownwood is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
- Orion
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Orion is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- West Jefferson
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Todd
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Crumpler
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Avery County
- Seven Devils
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Burke County
- Rhodhiss
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purlear, with the one closest to Purlear listed first.
- Cilley ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cilley is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cilley
- Kings Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kings Creek is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Creek
- Draco
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Draco is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draco
- Emanuel ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Emanuel is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emanuel
- Cedar Rock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Patterson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Downsville ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Downsville is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downsville
- Mulberry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mulberry is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Blowing Rock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Lenoir
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lenoir is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenoir
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17,911 people
- Former name for Lenoir:
- Tucker's Barn
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lenoir <1>
- Rufus
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Rufus is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rufus
- Abingdon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Abingdon is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abingdon
- Catawba County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purlear, with the one closest to Purlear listed first.
- North Hickory
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- North Hickory is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hickory
- Saint Stephens
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Saint Stephens is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Stephens
- Oxford Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Oxford Park is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Park
- Catfish
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Catfish is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catfish
- Sunrise Beach
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Sunrise Beach is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunrise Beach
- Viewmont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Viewmont is located in Catawba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viewmont
- Iredell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purlear, with the one closest to Purlear listed first.
- Love Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- New Hope ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- New Hope is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Union Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Brevard ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brevard is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevard
- Scotts
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Scotts is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts
- Olin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Olin is located in Iredell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olin
- Surry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purlear, with the one closest to Purlear listed first.
- Thurmond
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Elkin Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Elkin Valley is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkin Valley
- Elkin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- State Road
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Devotion
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Devotion is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devotion
- Mountain Park
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Park is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Park
- Mulberry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Mulberry is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Zephyr
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Zephyr is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zephyr
- Rusk ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rusk is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
- Watauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purlear, with the one closest to Purlear listed first.
- Stony Fork
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Stony Fork is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Fork
- Deep Gap
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Laxon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Laxon is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laxon
- Rutherwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Rutherwood is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherwood
- Bamboo
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bamboo is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamboo
- Moretz
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Moretz is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moretz
- Sands
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Sands is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Norris ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Norris is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Boone
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Shulls Mill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Shulls Mill is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shulls Mill
- Foscoe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Valle Crucis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Yadkin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purlear, with the one closest to Purlear listed first.
- Swan Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Swan Creek is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Creek
- Cycle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Cycle is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cycle
- Arlington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Arlington is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Jonesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Marler
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Marler is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marler
- Rena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Rena is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rena
- Windsors Crossroads
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Windsors Crossroads is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsors Crossroads
- Hamptonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Branon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Branon is located in Yadkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branon
- Johnson County (TN)
- Trade
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Grayson County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Purlear, with the one closest to Purlear listed first.
- Mouth-of-Wilson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bridle Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bridle Creek is located in Grayson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridle Creek
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Purlear, see our County-by-County Page for Purlear.
Cemeteries Near Purlear ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Purlear.
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 Purlear - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Purlear covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Purlear, with the one closest to Purlear listed first.
- Union Tarheel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mountlawn Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mountain Park Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Park Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mountain Park Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Wilkesboro.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #48172 <2>
- Burke Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Roberts Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Taylor Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Sherrill Hill Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stony Fork Baptist Church Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Laytown Baptist Church Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lebanon Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Mt. Bethel Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (339 more) ...
- Peak Creek Community Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peak Creek Community Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Peak Creek Community Cemetery is located 5 miles [8 km]<3> to the northeast of Glendale Springs.
- The Peak Creek Community Cemetery has also been known as:
- Peak Creek Church of the Brethren Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2202515 <2>
- Kings Creek Baptist Church Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Old Bethany Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Purlear had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Purlear, with the one closest to Purlear listed first.
- Millers Creek
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Wilbar
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Wilbar is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbar
- Ready Branch
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ready Branch is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ready Branch
- Parsonville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Parsonville is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parsonville
- Adley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Adley is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adley
- Cricket
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cricket is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket
- Maple Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Maple Springs is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Springs
- Hendrix ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hendrix is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
- Wilkesboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Fairplains
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Fairplains is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairplains
- Mulberry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mulberry is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Boomer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Boomer is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boomer
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Moravian Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Halls Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Halls Mills is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Mills
- Mount Zion
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Mount Zion is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Purlear. See our List of 1890's Communities around Purlear.
Newspapers Published in Purlear ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Purlear.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Purlear, 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 Purlear.
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 Purlear:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Wilkes County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alexander County
- Alleghany County
- Ashe County
- Avery County
- Burke County
- Caldwell County
- Catawba County
- Iredell County
- Surry County
- Watauga County
- Yadkin County
- Johnson County
- Grayson 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 '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- Purlear) 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 Purlear, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |