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 Semora (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 Semora. 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 doctors and 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.
Semora is located in Caswell 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 Caswell County: Alamance, Orange, Person, Rockingham, Danville City (VA), Halifax (VA) & Pittsylvania (VA).
Below are the counties that are near Semora. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Semora:
- Caswell County (The home county of Semora)
- The following are listed by their distance from Semora, with the one closest to Semora listed first.
- Milton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Estelle
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Estelle is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Leasburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Blanch
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Yanceyville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Providence
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Providence is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Ridgeville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Ridgeville is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
- West Yanceyville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- West Yanceyville is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Yanceyville
- Gatewood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Gatewood is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gatewood
- Whitetown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Whitetown is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitetown
- Bethel
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Pelham
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Pelham is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Alamance County
- The following are listed by their distance from Semora, with the one closest to Semora listed first.
- Just Crossroads
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Just Crossroads is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Just Crossroads
- Pleasant Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- Union Ridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Union Ridge is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Ridge
- McCray
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- McCray is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCray
- Stagecoach Trail
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Stagecoach Trail is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stagecoach Trail
- Clover Garden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clover Garden is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Garden
- Green Level
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Green Level is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Level
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,341 people
- Mebane
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Woodlawn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Woodlawn is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
- Lakeview Estates
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lakeview Estates is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview Estates
- Lakeview
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lakeview is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Altamahaw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Altamahaw is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamahaw
- Durham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Semora, with the one closest to Semora listed first.
- Rougemont
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hampton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hampton is located in Durham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
- Bahama
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Granville County
- The following are listed by their distance from Semora, with the one closest to Semora listed first.
- Wilbourns
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Wilbourns is located in Granville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbourns
- Berea
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Berea is located in Granville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berea
- Orange County
- The following are listed by their distance from Semora, with the one closest to Semora listed first.
- Laws
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Laws is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laws
- Berryland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Berryland is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryland
- Carr
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Carr is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carr
- Kindful Acres
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Kindful Acres is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kindful Acres
- Green Pines
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Green Pines is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pines
- Larry Hall
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Larry Hall is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larry Hall
- McDade
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- McDade is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDade
- Caldwell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Caldwell is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caldwell
- Cedar Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Cedar Grove is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Deer Run
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Deer Run is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Run
- Springcrest Meadows
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Springcrest Meadows is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springcrest Meadows
- Arrowhead
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Arrowhead is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrowhead
- Person County
- The following are listed by their distance from Semora, with the one closest to Semora listed first.
- Concord
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Concord is located in Person County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Ceffo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ceffo is located in Person County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceffo
- Hicks Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hicks Village is located in Person County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks Village
- Roseville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Roseville is located in Person County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
- Roxboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Whitt Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Whitt Town is located in Person County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitt Town
- Allens Level
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Allens Level is located in Person County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Level
- Hurdle Mills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Allensville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Allensville is located in Person County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allensville
- Cates
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cates is located in Person County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cates
- Timberlake
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Tirzah
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Tirzah is located in Person County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Tirzah
- Rockingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Semora, with the one closest to Semora listed first.
- Ruffin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Lawsonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Lawsonville is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonville
- Draper ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Draper is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draper
- Danville City (VA)
- Danville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fluvanna County (VA)
- Scottsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Halifax County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Semora, with the one closest to Semora listed first.
- Delila
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Delila is located in Halifax County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delila
- Sutherlin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Sutherlin is located in Halifax County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutherlin
- Alton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Harmony
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Harmony is located in Halifax County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- Elmo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Elmo is located in Halifax County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Mayo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Mayo is located in Halifax County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayo
- Cluster Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cluster Springs is located in Halifax County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cluster Springs
- Jones
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Jones is located in Halifax County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- South Boston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Westside Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Westside Village is located in Halifax County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westside Village
- Virgilina
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Banister Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Banister Town is located in Halifax County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banister Town
- Madison County (VA)
- Beaver Park
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Beaver Park is located in Madison County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Park
- Mecklenburg County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Semora, with the one closest to Semora listed first.
- Nelson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Nelson is located in Mecklenburg County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Averett
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Averett is located in Mecklenburg County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averett
- Henrico
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Henrico is located in Mecklenburg County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrico
- Shiny Rock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Shiny Rock is located in Mecklenburg County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiny Rock
- Pittsylvania County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Semora, with the one closest to Semora listed first.
- Laurel Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Laurel Grove is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Grove
- Kentuck
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Kentuck is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Ridgecrest
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Ridgecrest is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgecrest
- Henrys Mill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Henrys Mill is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrys Mill
- Mount Cross
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Cross is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Cross
- Spring Garden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Garden is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Lucks
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Lucks is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucks
- Java
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Java is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Java
- Tightsqueeze
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tightsqueeze is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tightsqueeze
- Transco Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Transco Village is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Transco Village
- Markham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Markham is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham
- Chatham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Chatham is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,413 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Semora, see our County-by-County Page for Semora.
Cemeteries Near Semora ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Semora.
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 Semora - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Semora covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Semora, with the one closest to Semora listed first.
- Zion Level Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Connally UMC Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Chestnut Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Whitt Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Foster Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Cunningham Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cunningham Family Cemetery
- The Cunningham Family Cemetery has also been known as:
- Cuningham Family Cemetery
- Cunningham Cemetery
- Waverly Plantation Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2310319 <2>
- Calvary UMC Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary UMC Cemetery
- The Calvary UMC Cemetery has also been known as:
- Calvary Cemetery
- Calvary Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #49659 <2>
- The Cedars Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Concord Methodist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Gilead Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- New Hope UMC Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Reaves - Riggsby Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (196 more) ...
- New Ephesus Baptist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Mill Hill Baptist Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Semora had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Semora, with the one closest to Semora listed first.
- Osmond
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Osmond is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osmond
- Cunningham
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cunningham is located in Person County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cunningham
- Milton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Delila
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Delila is located in Halifax County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delila
- Estelle
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Estelle is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Ceffo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ceffo is located in Person County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceffo
- Hamer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hamer is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamer
- Leasburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Olive Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Olive Hill is located in Person County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olive Hill
- Barksdale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Barksdale is located in Halifax County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barksdale
- Blanch
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sutherlin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Sutherlin is located in Halifax County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutherlin
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Alton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Woodsdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Woodsdale is located in Person County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodsdale
- Turbeville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Turbeville is located in Halifax County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turbeville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Semora. See our List of 1890's Communities around Semora.
Newspapers Published in Semora ...
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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Semora.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Semora, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Semora.
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 Semora:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Caswell County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alamance County
- Durham County
- Granville County
- Orange County
- Person County
- Rockingham County
- Danville City
- Fluvanna County
- Halifax County
- Madison County
- Mecklenburg County
- Pittsylvania County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for North Carolina
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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Semora) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Semora, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |