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 Raeford (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 Raeford. 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 and doctors 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.
Raeford is located in Hoke 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 Hoke County: Cumberland, Moore, Richmond, Robeson & Scotland.
Below are the counties that are near Raeford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Raeford:
- Hoke County (The home county of Raeford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Raeford, with the one closest to Raeford listed first.
- Silver City
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Silver City is located in Hoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Timberland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Timberland is located in Hoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberland
- Dundarrach
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Dundarrach is located in Hoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundarrach
- Gold Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Gold Hill is located in Hoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Hill
- Bowmore
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bowmore is located in Hoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowmore
- Five Points
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Five Points is located in Hoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Rockfish
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Rockfish is located in Hoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockfish
- Ashley Heights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ashley Heights is located in Hoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Heights
- Bladen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raeford, with the one closest to Raeford listed first.
- Jerome
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Jerome is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Tar Heel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raeford, with the one closest to Raeford listed first.
- Cumberland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Timberlake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Timberlake is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlake
- Hope Mills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Kingsford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Kingsford is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsford
- Fort Bragg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ardulusa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Ardulusa is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardulusa
- Bonnie Doone
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Highland Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Highland Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
- Shaw
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Shaw is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
- Shaw has also been known as:
- Shaw Heights
- Spring Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fayetteville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Holly Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Holly Springs is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Harnett County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raeford, with the one closest to Raeford listed first.
- Overhills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Overhills is located in Harnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overhills
- Johnsonville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Johnsonville is located in Harnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonville
- Spout Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Spout Springs is located in Harnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spout Springs
- Pineview
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Pineview is located in Harnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineview
- Twin Lakes
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Twin Lakes is located in Harnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Murchisontown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Murchisontown is located in Harnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murchisontown
- Olivia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Barbecue
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Barbecue is located in Harnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barbecue
- Anderson Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Anderson Creek is located in Harnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson Creek
- Flat Branch
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Flat Branch is located in Harnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Branch
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raeford, with the one closest to Raeford listed first.
- White Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- White Hill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hill
- Lemon Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lemon Springs is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lemon Springs
- Quail Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Quail Ridge is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quail Ridge
- Swann
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Swann is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swann
- Moore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raeford, with the one closest to Raeford listed first.
- Mount Pleasant
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Aberdeen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Silver Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Silver Springs is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Springs
- Pinebluff
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Southern Pines
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lakeview
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Lakeview is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Vass
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Pinehurst
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Whispering Pines
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Taylortown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Taylortown is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylortown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 880 people
- Cameron
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Foxfire
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Foxfire is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxfire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,061 people
- Richmond County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raeford, with the one closest to Raeford listed first.
- Hoffman
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hoffman is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 571 people
- Marston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Marston is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Steen Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Steen Town is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen Town
- Ghio Scholl Station
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ghio Scholl Station is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ghio Scholl Station
- Dobbins Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dobbins Heights is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobbins Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Hamlet
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- New Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- New Town is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Norman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Norman is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
- East Rockingham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- East Rockingham is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Rockingham
- Ellerbe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Rockingham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Robeson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raeford, with the one closest to Raeford listed first.
- Lumber Bridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lumber Bridge is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumber Bridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
- Shannon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Shannon is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon
- Red Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Parkton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rex
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rex is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rex
- Rennert
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rennert is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rennert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Philadelphus
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Philadelphus is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphus
- Prospect
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Prospect is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect
- Alma
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Alma is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Maxton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Saint Pauls
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Red Banks
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Red Banks is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Banks
- Scotland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raeford, with the one closest to Raeford listed first.
- Crump Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Crump Town is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crump Town
- New Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- New Town is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Wagram
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- East Laurinburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- East Laurinburg is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laurinburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 277 people
- Laurinburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Richmond Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Richmond Mill is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Mill
- Laurel Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hasty
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hasty is located in Scotland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasty
- Gibson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Marlboro County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Raeford, with the one closest to Raeford listed first.
- McColl
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Newtonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Newtonville is located in Marlboro County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtonville
- Red Bluff
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Red Bluff is located in Marlboro County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bluff
- Tatum
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Raeford, see our County-by-County Page for Raeford.
Cemeteries Near Raeford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Raeford.
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 Raeford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Raeford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Raeford, with the one closest to Raeford listed first.
- Highland Biblical Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- McNeill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- McMillan Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Love Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- McGougan Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Brown Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Purcell Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy Grove UMC Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Blue Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Gilchrist Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- McPhatter Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lillys Chapel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (209 more) ...
- McLean Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Community Rest Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Wood Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
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 Raeford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Raeford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Raeford, with the one closest to Raeford listed first.
- Shannon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Shannon is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon
- Lumber Bridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lumber Bridge is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumber Bridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
- Red Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Wakulla
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wakulla is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakulla
- Floral College
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Floral College is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floral College
- Cumberland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Philadelphus
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Philadelphus is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphus
- Aberdeen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Roslin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Roslin is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roslin
- Hope Mills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Manly
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Manly is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manly
- Pinebluff
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Buie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Buie is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buie
- Southern Pines
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Maxton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Raeford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Raeford.
Newspapers Published in Raeford ...
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 19 newspapers that have been published in the area around Raeford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Raeford, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Raeford.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Raeford:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Hoke County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bladen County
- Cumberland County
- Harnett County
- Lee County
- Moore County
- Richmond County
- Robeson County
- Scotland County
- Marlboro 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 Raeford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Raeford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |