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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 Savannah (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 Savannah. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.

Savannah is located in Jackson 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 Jackson County: Haywood, Macon, Swain, Transylvania & Oconee (SC).

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

  • Jackson County     (The home county of Savannah)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Greens Creek
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Greens Creek is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
    • Gay
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Gay is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
    • Forest Hills
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Forest Hills is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
      • Forest Hills has also been known as:
      • Forest Hills village
      • Village of Forest Hills
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Forest Hills <1>
    • Webster
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Webster is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
    • Cullowhee
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Dillsboro
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Sylva
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Sylva is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylva
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,739 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sylva <1>
    • East Laport
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • East Laport is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
    • Wilmot
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Wilmot is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
    • Tuckasegee
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Addie
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Addie is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
    • Erastus
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Erastus is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erastus
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Topton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Rhodo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Rhodo is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodo
    • Buffalo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Buffalo is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
  • Graham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Stecoah
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Stecoah is located in Graham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stecoah
    • Bear Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Bear Creek is located in Graham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
    • Cheoah
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Cheoah is located in Graham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheoah
    • Robbinsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Haywood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Maggie Valley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Hazelwood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Hazelwood is located in Haywood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
    • Waynesville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Lavinia ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lavinia is located in Haywood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
    • Lake Junaluska
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Bethel
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Bethel is located in Haywood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
    • Sonoma ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Sonoma is located in Haywood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
    • Clyde
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Clyde is located in Haywood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,308 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clyde <1>
    • Cruso
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Cruso is located in Haywood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruso
    • West Canton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • West Canton is located in Haywood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Canton
    • Canton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Morning Star
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Morning Star is located in Haywood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morning Star
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Leatherman
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Leatherman is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
    • Ellijay
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Ellijay is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
    • Franklin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Tellico
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Tellico is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tellico
    • Riverside
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Riverside is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
    • Lickskillet
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Lickskillet is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
    • Otto
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Scaly Mountain
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Fairview
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Fairview is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Orlando
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Orlando is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
  • Swain County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Unahala
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Unahala is located in Swain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
    • Cherokee
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Oconaluftee Indian Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Bryson City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Almond
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Judson ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Judson is located in Swain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
    • Wesser
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Wesser is located in Swain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesser
    • Forney ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Forney is located in Swain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forney
    • Bushnell ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Bushnell is located in Swain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushnell
    • Nantahala
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Nantahala is located in Swain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
  • Transylvania County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Sapphire
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Balsam Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Lake Toxaway
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
    • Rosman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Rosman is located in Transylvania County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 624 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosman <1>
    • East Fork
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • East Fork is located in Transylvania County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
    • Brevard
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Brevard is located in Transylvania County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevard
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,899 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brevard <1>
  • Rabun County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Sky Valley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Dillard
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Mountain City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Antioch
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Antioch is located in Rabun County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
    • Clayton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Clayton is located in Rabun County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,103 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clayton <1>
    • Germany
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Germany is located in Rabun County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germany
  • Towns County (GA)
    • Tate City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Tate City is located in Towns County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate City
  • Oconee County (SC)
  • Sevier County (TN)
    • Elkmont ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Elkmont is located in Sevier County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkmont

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

Cemeteries Near Savannah ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Savannah.

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

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

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

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

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

  • Webster
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Webster is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
  • Cullowhee
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Sylva
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Sylva is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylva
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,739 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sylva <1>
  • Dillsboro
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Fallcliff
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Fallcliff is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallcliff
  • Leatherman
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Leatherman is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
  • East Laport
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • East Laport is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
  • Wilmot
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Wilmot is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
  • Beta
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Beta is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beta
  • Ellijay
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Ellijay is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
  • Tuckasegee
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Cowarts
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Cowarts is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowarts
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Addie
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Addie is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
    • Cullasaja
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Cullasaja is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullasaja
    • Whittier
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Savannah ...

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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Savannah.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Savannah, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Savannah.

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 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 Savannah:

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>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.
<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 Savannah, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Savannah) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.