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 Ravensford (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 Ravensford. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Ravensford is located in Swain 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 Swain County: Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Blount (TN) & Sevier (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Ravensford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ravensford:
- Swain County (The home county of Ravensford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ravensford, with the one closest to Ravensford listed first.
- Cherokee
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bryson City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Unahala
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Unahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
- Forney ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Forney is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forney
- Judson ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Judson is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Bushnell ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Bushnell is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushnell
- Almond
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Wesser
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wesser is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesser
- Nantahala
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Nantahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
- Buncombe County
- Sandymush
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sandymush is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandymush
- Sandymush has also been known as:
- Sandy Mush
- Cherokee County
- Topton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Graham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ravensford, with the one closest to Ravensford listed first.
- Stecoah
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Stecoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stecoah
- Cheoah
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cheoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheoah
- Bear Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bear Creek is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Fontana Dam
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Fontana Dam is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontana Dam
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6 people
- Fontana Dam has also been known as:
- Fontana Village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fontana Dam <1>
- Yellow Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Yellow Creek is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ravensford, with the one closest to Ravensford listed first.
- Maggie Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Hazelwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Hazelwood is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Waynesville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lake Junaluska
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Teague ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Teague is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
- Mount Sterling
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Sterling is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Clyde
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lavinia ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lavinia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
- Bethel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Bethel is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Sonoma ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sonoma is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- West Canton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- West Canton is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Canton
- Canton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Morning Star
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Morning Star is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morning Star
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ravensford, with the one closest to Ravensford listed first.
- Paint Town
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Paint Town is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Town
- Whittier
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wilmot
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Wilmot is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Dillsboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Addie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Addie is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
- Sylva
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Greens Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- Webster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Balsam
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ruby City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ruby City is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby City
- Forest Hills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Gay
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Gay is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
- Cullowhee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ravensford, with the one closest to Ravensford listed first.
- Leatherman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Tellico
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tellico is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tellico
- Ellijay
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Franklin
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Fairview
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Riverside
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Riverside is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ravensford, with the one closest to Ravensford listed first.
- Trust
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Trust is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
- Lynch ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lynch is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch
- Transylvania County
- Balsam Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blount County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ravensford, with the one closest to Ravensford listed first.
- Townsend
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Red Bank
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Red Bank is located in Blount County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Cocke County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ravensford, with the one closest to Ravensford listed first.
- Cosby
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hartford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Birdsville ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Birdsville is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdsville
- Naillon ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Naillon is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naillon
- Wilton Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Wilton Springs is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton Springs
- Tom Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tom Town is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tom Town
- Carson Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Carson Springs is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carson Springs
- Edwina
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Edwina is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwina
- Bailey Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bailey Town is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
- Estimated population in 2014: 428 people
- Nough
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Nough is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nough
- Sevier County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ravensford, with the one closest to Ravensford listed first.
- Pittman Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Pittman Center is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittman Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 545 people
- Elkmont ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Elkmont is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkmont
- Gatlinburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Chalet Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Chalet Village is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalet Village
- Starkeytown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Starkeytown is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starkeytown
- Estimated population in 2014: 431 people
- East Fork
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- East Fork is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
- Pigeon Forge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Wear Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Wear Valley is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wear Valley
- Middle Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Middle Creek is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Creek
- Harrisburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Harrisburg is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
- Estimated population in 2014: 6,219 people
- Waldens Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Waldens Creek is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldens Creek
- Sevierville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Millican Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Millican Grove is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millican Grove
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ravensford, see our County-by-County Page for Ravensford.
Cemeteries Near Ravensford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ravensford.
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 Ravensford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ravensford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ravensford, with the one closest to Ravensford listed first.
- Nations Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Entoe Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Chambers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Conner Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Lambert Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Queens Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Floyd Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Slave Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Copper Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sneed Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Tolley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Stamper Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (441 more) ...
- Beck Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Husky Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
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 Ravensford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ravensford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ravensford, with the one closest to Ravensford listed first.
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cherokee
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Birdtown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Birdtown is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdtown
- Whittier
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wilmot
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Wilmot is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Beta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Beta is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beta
- Bryson City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dillsboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sylva
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Addie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Addie is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
- Webster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Balsam
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Cullowhee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cataloochee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cataloochee is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cataloochee
- Judson ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Judson is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ravensford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ravensford.
Newspapers Published in Ravensford ...
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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ravensford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ravensford, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ravensford.
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 Ravensford:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Swain County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buncombe County
- Cherokee County
- Graham County
- Haywood County
- Jackson County
- Macon County
- Madison County
- Transylvania County
- Blount County
- Cocke County
- Sevier 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 Ravensford, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Ravensford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |