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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 Salem (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 Salem. 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 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.

Salem is located in Pasquotank 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 Pasquotank County: Camden, Gates & Perquimans.

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

  • Pasquotank County     (The home county of Salem)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
    • Weeksville
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Weeksville is located in Pasquotank County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeksville
    • Nixonton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Nixonton is located in Pasquotank County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixonton
    • Elizabeth City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Camden County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
    • Elizabeth City Beach
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Elizabeth City Beach is located in Camden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elizabeth City Beach
    • Shiloh
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Shiloh is located in Camden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Alder Branch
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Alder Branch is located in Camden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alder Branch
    • Riddle
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Riddle is located in Camden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riddle
    • Camden
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Belcross
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Belcross is located in Camden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcross
    • South Mills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Horseshoe
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Horseshoe is located in Camden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horseshoe
  • Chowan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
    • Center Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Center Hill is located in Chowan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
    • Ryland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Ryland is located in Chowan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryland
    • Edenton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Gliden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Gliden is located in Chowan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gliden
    • Mavaton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Mavaton is located in Chowan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavaton
  • Currituck County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
    • Bertha
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Bertha is located in Currituck County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertha
    • Coinjock
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Grandy
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Jarvisburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Shawboro
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Poplar Branch
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Powells Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Aydlett
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Aydlett is located in Currituck County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aydlett
    • Barco
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Maple
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Maple is located in Currituck County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple
    • Snowden
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Snowden is located in Currituck County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowden
    • Waterlily
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Waterlily is located in Currituck County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterlily
    • Currituck
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Dare County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
    • Duck
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • George Town Sands
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • George Town Sands is located in Dare County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for George Town Sands
    • Poteskeet Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Poteskeet Village is located in Dare County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poteskeet Village
    • Sandy Ridge
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Sandy Ridge is located in Dare County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
    • Southern Shores
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Kitty Hawk
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Buffalo City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Buffalo City is located in Dare County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo City
    • Kill Devil Hills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Fort Raleigh City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Fort Raleigh City is located in Dare County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Raleigh City
    • Manns Harbor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Gates County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
    • Acorn Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Acorn Hill is located in Gates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acorn Hill
    • Hobbsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Hobbsville is located in Gates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobbsville
    • Mintonsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Mintonsville is located in Gates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mintonsville
    • Muddy Cross
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Muddy Cross is located in Gates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddy Cross
    • Mitchells Fork
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Mitchells Fork is located in Gates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchells Fork
  • Perquimans County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
    • Woodville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Woodville is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
    • Burgess
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Burgess is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
    • Snug Harbor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Snug Harbor is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snug Harbor
    • Hertford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Winfall
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Nicanor
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Nicanor is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicanor
    • Bethel ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Bethel is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
    • Yeopim Station
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Yeopim Station is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeopim Station
      • Yeopim Station has also been known as:
      • Yeopim
    • Belvidere
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Snow Hill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Snow Hill is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
  • Tyrrell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
    • Fort Landing
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Fort Landing is located in Tyrrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Landing
    • Alligator
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Alligator is located in Tyrrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alligator
    • Columbia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • New Lands
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • New Lands is located in Tyrrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lands
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
    • Pea Ridge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Pea Ridge is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Ridge
    • Creswell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Skinnersville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Skinnersville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinnersville

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

Cemeteries Near Salem ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Salem.

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

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

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

  • Walker Family Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Gilbert Family Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • New Oak Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Hollywood Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • New Hollywood Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • New Hope UMC Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • West Lawn Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Godfrey Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Jackson Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Harvey Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (33 more) ...
    • Porters Chapel Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Memory Gardens
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • William G. Wood Family Cemetery
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)

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 Salem in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Salem.

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

  • Weeksville
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Weeksville is located in Pasquotank County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeksville
  • Shiloh
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Shiloh is located in Camden County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
  • Old Trap
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Old Trap is located in Camden County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Trap
  • Nixonton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Nixonton is located in Pasquotank County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixonton
  • Elizabeth City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Indiantown
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Indiantown is located in Camden County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiantown
  • Belcross
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Belcross is located in Camden County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcross
  • Woodville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Woodville is located in Perquimans County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
  • Gregory
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Gregory is located in Currituck County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregory
  • Pasquotank
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Pasquotank is located in Pasquotank County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pasquotank
  • Coinjock
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Okisko
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Okisko is located in Pasquotank County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okisko
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Salem ...

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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Salem.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Salem, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Salem.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Salem:

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 drawn from Point A (ie- Salem) 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 Salem, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.