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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 Rufus (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 Rufus. 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 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 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.

Rufus is located in Caldwell 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 Caldwell County: Alexander, Burke, Catawba, Watauga & Wilkes.

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

  • Caldwell County     (The home county of Rufus)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rufus, with the one closest to Rufus listed first.
    • Mulberry
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Patterson
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Collettsville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Abingdon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Mortimer ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Adako
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Muttenz ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Muttenz is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muttenz
    • Lenoir
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Blowing Rock
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Gamewell
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Cedar Rock
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Cedar Rock is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Rock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
      • Cedar Rock has also been known as:
      • Cedar Rock village
    • Cilley ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Cilley is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cilley
  • Alexander County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rufus, with the one closest to Rufus listed first.
    • Ellendale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Little River
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Little River is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little River
    • Bethlehem
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bethlehem is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
    • Liledoun
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Liledoun is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liledoun
    • Isenhour Park
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Isenhour Park is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isenhour Park
    • Taylorsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Millersville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Millersville is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
    • Taylorsville Beach
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Taylorsville Beach is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville Beach
    • Midway
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Midway is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Vashti
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Fairview Park
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Fairview Park is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Park
    • Rocky Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Rocky Springs is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Springs
  • Ashe County
  • Avery County
  • Burke County
  • Catawba County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rufus, with the one closest to Rufus listed first.
    • Long View
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Long View is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long View
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,951 people
    • North Hickory
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • North Hickory is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hickory
    • Hickory
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Viewmont
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Viewmont is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viewmont
    • Advent Crossroads
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Brookford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Brookford is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 381 people
    • Meadow Brook Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Meadow Brook Village is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Brook Village
    • Mountain View
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Mountain View is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain View
    • Saint Stephens
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Saint Stephens is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Stephens
    • Sweetwater
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Sweetwater is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetwater
    • Fairbrook
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairbrook is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbrook
    • Cooksville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Cooksville is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooksville
  • McDowell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rufus, with the one closest to Rufus listed first.
    • Ashford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Nebo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Patten
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Little Switzerland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Marion
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Mitchell County
  • Watauga County
  • Wilkes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rufus, with the one closest to Rufus listed first.
    • Ferguson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Hendrix ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hendrix is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
    • Maple Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Maple Springs is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Springs
    • Mount Pleasant
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
    • Boomer
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Boomer is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boomer
    • Purlear
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Purlear is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purlear
    • Adley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Wilbar
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Moravian Falls
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Millers Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Stokes ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Stokes is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
    • Cricket
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cricket is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket
  • Carter County (TN)
  • Johnson County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rufus, with the one closest to Rufus listed first.
    • Trade
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Norris
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Norris is located in Johnson County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,652 people
    • Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville

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

Cemeteries Near Rufus ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rufus.

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

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

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

  • Rufus Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Mulberry Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Edmisten Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Globe Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Greene Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Greene Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Rich Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Bolick Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Harpertown Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Estes Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (405 more) ...
    • Tolbert Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • McLean Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Harrison 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.<2>

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

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

  • Patterson
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Globe
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Globe is located in Caldwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
  • Collettsville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Upton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Upton is located in Caldwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upton
  • Muttenz ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Muttenz is located in Caldwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muttenz
  • Lenoir
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Yadkin Valley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Yadkin Valley is located in Caldwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yadkin Valley
  • Blowing Rock
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Gamewell
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Hibriten ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Hibriten is located in Caldwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hibriten
  • Kelsey
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Kelsey is located in Watauga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsey
  • Buffalo Cove
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Buffalo Cove is located in Caldwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Cove
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Perkinsville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Perkinsville is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkinsville
    • Hartland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Hartland is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
    • Emanuel ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Emanuel is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emanuel

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

Newspapers Published in Rufus ...

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 Rufus.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rufus, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rufus.

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 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 Rufus:

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