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 Riley (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 Riley. 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 hospitals and 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.
Riley is located in Franklin 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 Franklin County: Granville, Halifax, Nash, Vance, Wake & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Riley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Riley:
- Franklin County (The home county of Riley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Bunn
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sutton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sutton is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutton
- Youngsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Katesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Katesville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katesville
- Wake Forest
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Louisburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Mapleville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mapleville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleville
- Franklinton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Ingleside
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Ingleside is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
- White Level
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- White Level is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Level
- Lake View
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lake View is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Alert
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Alert is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alert
- Centerville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Centerville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Estimated population in 2017: 102 people
- Chatham County
- Cary
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Durham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Brassfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Brassfield is located in Durham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brassfield
- Gorman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Gorman is located in Durham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gorman
- Morrisville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Nelson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Nelson is located in Durham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Durham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Edgecombe County
- Sharpsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Granville County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Wilton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Wilton is located in Granville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Mount Energy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Energy is located in Granville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Energy
- Creedmoor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fairport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fairport is located in Granville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Hester
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hester is located in Granville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hester
- Tar River
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tar River is located in Granville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tar River
- Clay
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Clay is located in Granville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay
- Lyons
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lyons is located in Granville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons
- Butner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Stem
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Stem is located in Granville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 474 people
- Providence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Providence is located in Granville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Oxford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Johnston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Archer Lodge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Archer Lodge is located in Johnston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archer Lodge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,322 people
- Archer Lodge has also been known as:
- Archer
- Stancils Chapel
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Stancils Chapel is located in Johnston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stancils Chapel
- Clayton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Wilson's Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Wilson's Mills is located in Johnston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson's Mills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,847 people
- Beulahtown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Beulahtown is located in Johnston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulahtown
- Micro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Micro is located in Johnston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Micro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 553 people
- Kenly
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Redwood Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Redwood Village is located in Johnston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood Village
- Selma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- West Smithfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- West Smithfield is located in Johnston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Smithfield
- Willow Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Willow Springs is located in Johnston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Springs
- Fairfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Fairfield is located in Johnston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
- Pine Level
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Nash County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Rocky Cross
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rocky Cross is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Cross
- Murraytown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Murraytown is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murraytown
- Union Hope
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Union Hope is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Hope
- Gold Valley Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Samaria
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Samaria is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samaria
- Frazier Crossroads
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Frazier Crossroads is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazier Crossroads
- Middlesex
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Middlesex is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesex
- Population from the 2020 Census: 834 people
- Rogers Crossroads
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rogers Crossroads is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers Crossroads
- Hunts
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Hunts is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunts
- Spring Hope
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Floods Chapel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Floods Chapel is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floods Chapel
- Mays Crossroads
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mays Crossroads is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mays Crossroads
- Bass Crossroads
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Bass Crossroads is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bass Crossroads
- Vance County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Bobbitt
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bobbitt is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bobbitt
- Kittrell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Gill
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Gill is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gill
- Gillburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Gillburg is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillburg
- Bear Pond
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bear Pond is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Pond
- South Henderson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- South Henderson is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Henderson
- Adcock Crossroads
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Adcock Crossroads is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adcock Crossroads
- Henderson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Dabney
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Dabney is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dabney
- Wake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Rolesville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Zebulon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Forestville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Forestville is located in Wake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
- Eagle Rock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Eagle Rock is located in Wake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Rock
- Wendell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Wyatt
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Wyatt is located in Wake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Neuse Crossroads
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Neuse Crossroads is located in Wake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neuse Crossroads
- Knightdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Falls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Falls is located in Wake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls
- Neuse
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Shotwell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Shotwell is located in Wake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shotwell
- New Light
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- New Light is located in Wake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Light
- Stony Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Stony Hill is located in Wake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Hill
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Lickskillet
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lickskillet is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Afton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Afton is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afton
- Wilson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Sims
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Scotts
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Scotts is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts
- Spring Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Lake is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- Lucama
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Elm City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Wilson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Riley, see our County-by-County Page for Riley.
Cemeteries Near Riley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riley.
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 Riley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Riley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Mitchell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Wakefield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Rolesville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Mullen Family Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Pine Forest Memorial Gardens
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Allen C. Perry Family Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Jack Bailey Family Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Fair View Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Hope Memorial Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Thompson Mill Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (211 more) ...
- Doub Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Whitley Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Hocutt Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
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>
While we didn't find Riley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Riley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Sutton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sutton is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutton
- Royal
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Royal is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal
- Rolesville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Union Hope
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Union Hope is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Hope
- Youngsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Forestville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Forestville is located in Wake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
- Eagle Rock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Eagle Rock is located in Wake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Rock
- Wendell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Earpsboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Earpsboro is located in Johnston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earpsboro
- Katesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Katesville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katesville
- Wake Forest
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Wyatt
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Wyatt is located in Wake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Louisburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Neuse
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Mapleville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mapleville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Riley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Riley.
Newspapers Published in Riley ...
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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riley, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Riley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Riley:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Franklin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chatham County
- Durham County
- Edgecombe County
- Granville County
- Johnston County
- Nash County
- Vance County
- Wake County
- Warren County
- Wilson 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Riley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Riley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |