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 Russells Creek (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 Russells Creek. 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.
Name Variations for Russells Creek ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Russells Creek: Russells Crk. (or less commonly used: Russells Ck. or Russells Cr.)
- While the name of this community is Russells Creek, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Russells Creek may originally have been Russell's Creek.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Russells Creek might be written as Russell Creek.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Russells Creek is located in Brunswick 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 Brunswick County: Columbus, New Hanover, Pender & Horry (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Russells Creek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Russells Creek:
- Brunswick County (The home county of Russells Creek)
- The following are listed by their distance from Russells Creek, with the one closest to Russells Creek listed first.
- Winnabow
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Town Creek
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Town Creek is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Town Creek
- Bolivia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Leland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Boiling Spring Lakes
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Boiling Spring Lakes is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boiling Spring Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,430 people
- Old Town
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Old Town is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Malmo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Malmo is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malmo
- Belville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Belville is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,135 people
- Sandy Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Sandy Creek is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 319 people
- Navassa
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Navassa is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navassa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,534 people
- Phoenix
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Phoenix is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoenix
- Northwest
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Northwest is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 806 people
- Bladen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Russells Creek, with the one closest to Russells Creek listed first.
- East Arcadia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- East Arcadia is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Arcadia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 470 people
- Long View
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Long View is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long View
- Kelly
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kelly is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
- Council
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Council is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- Columbus County
- The following are listed by their distance from Russells Creek, with the one closest to Russells Creek listed first.
- Acme
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Acme is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
- Delco
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Riegelwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Armour
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Armour is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armour
- Byrdville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Byrdville is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrdville
- Sandyfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sandyfield is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
- Bolton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Waccamaw
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hallsboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hallsboro is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsboro
- Bug Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bug Hill is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bug Hill
- Pireway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Pireway is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pireway
- Redbug
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Redbug is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbug
- New Hanover County
- The following are listed by their distance from Russells Creek, with the one closest to Russells Creek listed first.
- Silver Lake
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Silver Lake is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Myrtle Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Myrtle Grove is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Grove
- Sea Breeze
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Sea Breeze is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sea Breeze
- Hightsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hightsville is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightsville
- Wilmington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Carolina Beach
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Masonboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Masonboro is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masonboro
- Wrightsboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wrightsboro is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsboro
- Kure Beach
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Seagate
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Seagate is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seagate
- Smith Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Smith Creek is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Creek
- Kings Grant
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kings Grant is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Grant
- Pender County
- The following are listed by their distance from Russells Creek, with the one closest to Russells Creek listed first.
- Currie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Rocky Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ashton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ashton is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
- Brown Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brown Town is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown Town
- Atkinson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hampstead
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Helena
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Helena is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Helena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
- Topsail
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Topsail is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topsail
- Burgaw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Russells Creek, see our County-by-County Page for Russells Creek.
Cemeteries Near Russells Creek ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Russells Creek.
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 Russells Creek - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Russells Creek covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Russells Creek, with the one closest to Russells Creek listed first.
- Forest Lawn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Mercer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Randolph Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Benton Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Skipper Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- St. Thomas Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Nelson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Williams Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Chinnis Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Drew Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Atkinson Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Galloway Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (136 more) ...
- Greenlawn Memorial Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- St. James Episcopal Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
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>
While we didn't find Russells Creek in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Russells Creek.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Russells Creek, with the one closest to Russells Creek listed first.
- Winnabow
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Town Creek
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Town Creek is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Town Creek
- Malmo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Malmo is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malmo
- Navassa
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Navassa is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navassa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,534 people
- Phoenix
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Phoenix is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoenix
- Northwest
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Northwest is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 806 people
- Supply
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wilmington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Southport
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Wrightsboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wrightsboro is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsboro
- Freeman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Freeman is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Armour
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Armour is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armour
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Byrdville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Byrdville is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrdville
- Makatoka
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Makatoka is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Makatoka
- Shallotte
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Russells Creek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Russells Creek.
Newspapers Published in Russells Creek ...
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 97 newspapers that have been published in the area around Russells Creek.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Russells Creek, 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 Russells Creek.
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 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 Russells Creek:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Brunswick County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bladen County
- Columbus County
- New Hanover County
- Pender County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for North Carolina
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Russells Creek, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Russells Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |