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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 Rowan (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 Rowan. 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 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.

Rowan is located in Bladen 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 Bladen County: Columbus, Cumberland, Pender, Robeson & Sampson.

Below are the counties that are near Rowan. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rowan:

  • Bladen County     (The home county of Rowan)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rowan, with the one closest to Rowan listed first.
    • Long View
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Long View is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long View
    • Kelly
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Kelly is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
    • East Arcadia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • East Arcadia is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Arcadia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 470 people
    • Council
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Council is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
    • White Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Rosindale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Rosindale is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosindale
    • Mount Olive
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Mount Olive is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
    • Elizabethtown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Clarkton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Yorick
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Yorick is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorick
    • Abbottsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Abbottsburg is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbottsburg
    • Ammon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Ammon is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ammon
    • Ruskin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Ruskin is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruskin
  • Brunswick County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rowan, with the one closest to Rowan listed first.
    • Northwest
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Northwest is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 806 people
    • Sandy Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Sandy Creek is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 319 people
    • Malmo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Malmo is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malmo
    • Phoenix
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Phoenix is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoenix
    • Navassa
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Navassa is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navassa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,534 people
    • Belville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Belville is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,135 people
    • Town Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Town Creek is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Town Creek
    • Leland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Leland is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,647 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leland <1>
    • Winnabow
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Makatoka
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Makatoka is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Makatoka
    • Exum
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Exum is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exum
  • Columbus County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rowan, with the one closest to Rowan listed first.
    • Sandyfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Sandyfield is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
    • Armour
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Armour is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armour
    • Riegelwood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Acme
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Acme is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
    • Byrdville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Byrdville is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrdville
    • Delco
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Bolton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake Waccamaw
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Rico
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Rico is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rico
    • Hallsboro
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Hallsboro is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsboro
    • Redbug
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Redbug is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbug
    • Whiteville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Brunswick
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Duplin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rowan, with the one closest to Rowan listed first.
    • Harrells
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Harrells is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrells
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 191 people
    • Safe
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Safe is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Safe
    • Wallace
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Duff Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Duff Creek is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duff Creek
    • Tin City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Tin City is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tin City
    • Brices Crossroads
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Brices Crossroads is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brices Crossroads
    • Teachey
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Teachey is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teachey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 430 people
    • Concord
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Concord is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Rose Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cartersville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Cartersville is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Hancheys Store
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Hancheys Store is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancheys Store
    • Murphey
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Murphey is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphey
    • Charity
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Charity is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
  • New Hanover County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rowan, with the one closest to Rowan listed first.
    • Castle Hayne
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Skippers Corner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Skippers Corner is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skippers Corner
    • Hightsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Hightsville is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightsville
    • Wrightsboro
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Wrightsboro is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsboro
    • Murraysville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Murraysville is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murraysville
    • Smith Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Smith Creek is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Creek
    • Kings Grant
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Kings Grant is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Grant
    • Ogden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Wilmington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Windemere
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Windemere is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windemere
  • Pender County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rowan, with the one closest to Rowan listed first.
    • Atkinson
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Currie
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Watha
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Watha is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Burgaw
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Saint Helena
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Saint Helena is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Helena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
    • Willard
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Willard is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
    • Ashton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Ashton is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
    • Murray Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Murray Town is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray Town
    • Rocky Point
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
  • Sampson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rowan, with the one closest to Rowan listed first.
    • Ivanhoe
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Ivanhoe is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe
    • Kerr
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Kerr is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerr
    • Tomahawk
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Tomahawk is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomahawk
    • Delway
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Delway is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delway
    • Garland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Ingold
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Ingold is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingold
    • McDaniels
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • McDaniels is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDaniels
    • Beulah
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Beulah is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rowan, see our County-by-County Page for Rowan.

Cemeteries Near Rowan ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rowan.

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 Rowan - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rowan covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rowan, with the one closest to Rowan listed first.

  • Hawes Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Newtown Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Beatty Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Hale Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Kelley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Larkins Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Atkinson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Woodcock Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Sellars Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Holmes Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (217 more) ...
    • Anders Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Dyson Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Sheman Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<2>

While we didn't find Rowan in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rowan.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Rowan, with the one closest to Rowan listed first.

  • Colly
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Colly is located in Bladen County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colly
  • Kelly
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Kelly is located in Bladen County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
  • Atkinson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Ivanhoe
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Ivanhoe is located in Sampson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe
  • Point Caswell
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Point Caswell is located in Pender County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point Caswell
  • Westbrook
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Westbrook is located in Bladen County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook
  • Kerr
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Kerr is located in Sampson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerr
  • Currie
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Armour
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Armour is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armour
  • Council
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Council is located in Bladen County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
  • Montague
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Montague is located in Pender County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montague
  • Byrdville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Byrdville is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrdville
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Freeman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Freeman is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
    • Tomahawk
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Tomahawk is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomahawk
    • Rosindale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Rosindale is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosindale

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rowan. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rowan.

Newspapers Published in Rowan ...

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 14 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rowan.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rowan, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rowan.

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 helpful 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 Rowan:

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>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 Rowan, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Rowan) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.