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 Retreat (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 Retreat. 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.
Retreat is located in Haywood 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 Haywood County: Buncombe, Jackson, Madison, Swain, Transylvania, Cocke (TN) & Sevier (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Retreat. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Retreat:
- Haywood County (The home county of Retreat)
- The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
- Bethel
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bethel is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Sonoma ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Sonoma is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- Lavinia ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Lavinia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
- Cruso
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cruso is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruso
- Clyde
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Waynesville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hazelwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hazelwood is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Morning Star
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Morning Star is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morning Star
- West Canton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- West Canton is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Canton
- Lake Junaluska
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Canton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Maggie Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Buncombe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
- Glady
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Glady is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glady
- Candler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Newfound
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Newfound is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newfound
- Sandymush
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Sandymush is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandymush
- Sandymush has also been known as:
- Sandy Mush
- Enka Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Enka Village is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enka Village
- Enka
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bent Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bent Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Creek
- Acton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Acton is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
- Avery Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Avery Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery Creek
- Leicester
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Emma
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Emma is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emma
- West Asheville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- West Asheville is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Asheville
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
- Holly Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Holly Springs is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Mills River
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Etowah
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Horse Shoe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Fletcher
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Naples
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Naples is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naples
- Laurel Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Mountain Home
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Sky Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Sky Village is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sky Village
- Balfour
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Balfour is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balfour
- Timberland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Timberland is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberland
- Cumberland Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cumberland Village is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Village
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
- Balsam
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Ruby City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ruby City is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby City
- Argura
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Argura is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argura
- Addie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Addie is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
- East Laport
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Tuckasegee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cullowhee
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Sylva
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Webster
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Forest Hills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- 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>
- Dillsboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Greens Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
- Ellijay
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Leatherman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
- Trust
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Trust is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
- Spring Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Spring Creek is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Lynch ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lynch is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch
- Bluff
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bluff is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff
- Marshall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rollins
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rollins is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollins
- Walnut
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Walnut is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Hot Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Stackhouse
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Stackhouse is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stackhouse
- Petersburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Petersburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Swain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
- Cherokee
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Unahala
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Unahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
- Bryson City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Transylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
- Balsam Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Brevard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pisgah Forest
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Seven Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Seven Springs is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Springs
- Penrose
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rosman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Lake Toxaway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- East Fork
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- East Fork is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
- Sapphire
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Cedar Mountain
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Greenville County (SC)
- Caesars Head
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Caesars Head is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caesars Head
- Pickens County (SC)
- Rocky Bottom
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rocky Bottom is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Bottom
- Cocke County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
- Naillon ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Naillon is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naillon
- Tom Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Tom Town is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tom Town
- Hartford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nough
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Nough is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nough
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Retreat, see our County-by-County Page for Retreat.
Cemeteries Near Retreat ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Retreat.
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 Retreat - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Retreat covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
- Riverside Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Longs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ratcliffe Cove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rocky Branch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Quinn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Reeves Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bon-A-Venture Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Haynes Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Crawford Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (376 more) ...
- Hillcrest Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Green Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Medford Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Retreat had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
- Lavinia ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Lavinia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
- Sonoma ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Sonoma is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- Clyde
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Cruso
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cruso is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruso
- Springdale ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Springdale is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Waynesville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Iron Duff
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Iron Duff is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Duff
- Glady
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Glady is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glady
- Turnpike
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Turnpike is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnpike
- Balsam
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Crabtree
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Crabtree is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabtree
- Rich Mountain
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rich Mountain is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Mountain
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Luther
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Luther is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luther
- Cove Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cove Creek is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Creek
- Candler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Retreat. See our List of 1890's Communities around Retreat.
Newspapers Published in Retreat ...
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 Retreat.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Retreat, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Retreat.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Retreat:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Haywood County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buncombe County
- Henderson County
- Jackson County
- Macon County
- Madison County
- Swain County
- Transylvania County
- Greenville County
- Pickens County
- Cocke 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 Retreat, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Retreat) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |