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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Russaw. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Russaw to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Russaw, please Contact Us.


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 Russaw (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 Russaw. 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 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Russaw is historic, it would have been located within present day Wilkes 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 Wilkes County: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Iredell, Surry, Watauga & Yadkin.

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

  • Wilkes County     (The home county of Russaw)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russaw, with the one closest to Russaw listed first.
    • Henderson ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Henderson is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson
    • Fletcher ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Fletcher is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
    • North Wilkesboro
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairplains
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Fairplains is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairplains
    • Hays
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Wilkesboro
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Brier Creek ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Brier Creek is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brier Creek
    • Roaring River
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Roaring River is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaring River
    • Cricket
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Cricket is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket
    • Mulberry
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Mulberry is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
    • Stokes ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Stokes is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
    • Adley
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Adley is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adley
  • Alexander County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russaw, with the one closest to Russaw listed first.
    • Vashti
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Vashti is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vashti
    • Rocky Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Rocky Springs is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Springs
    • Taylorsville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Hiddenite
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Midway
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Midway is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Fairview Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Fairview Park is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Park
    • Ellendale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Ellendale is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
    • Liledoun
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Liledoun is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liledoun
    • Isenhour Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Isenhour Park is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isenhour Park
    • Stony Point
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Stony Point is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Point
    • Millersville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Millersville is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
    • Little River
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Little River is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little River
  • Alleghany County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russaw, with the one closest to Russaw listed first.
    • Roaring Gap
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Laurel Springs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Glade Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Hooker
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Hooker is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
    • Sparta
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Sparta is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,723 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sparta <2>
    • Scottville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Amelia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Amelia is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelia
    • Ennice
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Topia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Topia is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topia
    • Edmonds
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Edmonds is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmonds
    • Piney Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Ashe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russaw, with the one closest to Russaw listed first.
    • Obids
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Obids is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obids
    • Glendale Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Transou
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Transou is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Transou
    • Yates
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Yates is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
    • Wagoner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Wagoner is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wagoner
    • Orion
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Orion is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
    • Fleetwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Jefferson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • West Jefferson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Brownwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Brownwood is located in Ashe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
    • Crumpler
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Todd
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Caldwell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russaw, with the one closest to Russaw listed first.
    • Kings Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Kings Creek is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Creek
    • Cilley ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Cilley is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cilley
    • Draco
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Draco is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draco
    • Downsville ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Downsville is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downsville
    • Emanuel ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Emanuel is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emanuel
    • Cedar Rock
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • 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
    • Patterson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Patterson is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
  • Catawba County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russaw, with the one closest to Russaw listed first.
    • Catfish
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Catfish is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catfish
    • Oxford Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Oxford Park is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Park
    • Sunrise Beach
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Sunrise Beach is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunrise Beach
    • Saint Stephens
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Saint Stephens is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Stephens
    • North Hickory
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • North Hickory is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hickory
  • Davie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russaw, with the one closest to Russaw listed first.
    • Pino
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Pino is located in Davie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pino
    • Calahaln
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Calahaln is located in Davie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calahaln
  • Iredell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russaw, with the one closest to Russaw listed first.
    • New Hope ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • New Hope is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
    • Love Valley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Union Grove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Houstonville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Houstonville is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houstonville
    • Olin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Olin is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olin
    • Brevard ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Brevard is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevard
    • Harmony
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Scotts
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Scotts is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts
    • Turnersburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Turnersburg is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnersburg
    • Statesville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Cool Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Cool Springs is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool Springs
  • Surry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russaw, with the one closest to Russaw listed first.
    • Elkin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Elkin Valley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Elkin Valley is located in Surry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkin Valley
    • State Road
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Thurmond
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Mountain Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Mountain Park is located in Surry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Park
    • Mulberry
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Mulberry is located in Surry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
    • Rusk ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Rusk is located in Surry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
    • Devotion
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Devotion is located in Surry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devotion
    • Zephyr
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Zephyr is located in Surry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zephyr
    • Fairview
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairview is located in Surry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Stony Knoll
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Stony Knoll is located in Surry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Knoll
    • Dobson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Watauga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russaw, with the one closest to Russaw listed first.
    • Stony Fork
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Stony Fork is located in Watauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Fork
    • Deep Gap
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Laxon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Laxon is located in Watauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laxon
    • Bamboo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Bamboo is located in Watauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamboo
    • Rutherwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Rutherwood is located in Watauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherwood
    • Moretz
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Moretz is located in Watauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moretz
  • Yadkin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russaw, with the one closest to Russaw listed first.
    • Swan Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Swan Creek is located in Yadkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Creek
    • Arlington
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Arlington is located in Yadkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
    • Cycle
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Cycle is located in Yadkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cycle
    • Jonesville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Marler
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Marler is located in Yadkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marler
    • Rena
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Rena is located in Yadkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rena
    • Windsors Crossroads
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Windsors Crossroads is located in Yadkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsors Crossroads
    • Hamptonville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Branon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Branon is located in Yadkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branon
    • Boonville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Footville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Footville is located in Yadkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footville
    • Nebo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Nebo is located in Yadkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nebo
  • Grayson County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russaw, with the one closest to Russaw listed first.
    • Low Gap
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Low Gap is located in Grayson County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Gap
    • Baywood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Baywood is located in Grayson County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baywood
    • Independence
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Russaw ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Russaw.

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

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

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

  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Mountain Park Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Long Bottom Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Mountlawn Memorial Park
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Union Tarheel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Mt. Sinai Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hunting Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Old Brier Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Cherry Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Old Bethany Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Knobs Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Burke Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (194 more) ...
    • Swan Creek Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Johnson Family Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson Family Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Johnson Family Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<4> to the west of Traphill.
      • The Johnson Family Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Old Johnson Family Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2188960 <3>
    • Roberts Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)

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.

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

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

  • Dellaplane
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Dellaplane is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dellaplane
  • Fairplains
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Fairplains is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairplains
  • Wilkesboro
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Hunting Creek ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Hunting Creek is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunting Creek
  • Brier Creek ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Brier Creek is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brier Creek
  • Cricket
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Cricket is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket
  • Mulberry
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Mulberry is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
  • Adley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Adley is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adley
  • Moravian Falls
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Hay Meadow ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Hay Meadow is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hay Meadow
  • Dehart
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Dehart is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dehart
  • Zimmerman ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Zimmerman is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimmerman
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Ronda
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Dockery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Dockery is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dockery
    • Millers Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Russaw ...

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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Russaw.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Russaw, 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 Russaw.

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 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 Russaw:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Russaw, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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>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- Russaw) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.