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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

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

We've added Swain to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Swain, 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 Swain (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 Swain. 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 Swain is historic, it would have been located within present day Washington 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 Washington County: Beaufort, Bertie, Hyde, Martin & Tyrrell.

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

  • Washington County     (The home county of Swain)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swain, with the one closest to Swain listed first.
    • Roper
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Roper is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roper
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 533 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roper <2>
    • Westover
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Westover is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
    • Skinnersville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Skinnersville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinnersville
    • Pine Ridge
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Pine Ridge is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
    • Plymouth
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Pea Ridge
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Pea Ridge is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Ridge
    • Monticello ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Monticello is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
    • Creswell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Wenona
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Wenona is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
  • Beaufort County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swain, with the one closest to Swain listed first.
    • Union Grove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Union Grove is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
    • Pungo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Pungo is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pungo
    • Gaylord
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Gaylord is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaylord
    • Pantego
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Pantego is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pantego
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Pinetown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Pinetown is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinetown
    • Belhaven
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Walla Watta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Walla Watta is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walla Watta
  • Bertie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swain, with the one closest to Swain listed first.
    • Avoca
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Avoca is located in Bertie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
    • Edenhouse
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Edenhouse is located in Bertie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edenhouse
      • Edenhouse has also been known as:
      • Eden House Point
      • Eden House
      • Edenhouse Point
    • Merry Hill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Merry Hill is located in Bertie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merry Hill
    • Ashland
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Ashland is located in Bertie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Windsor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Colerain
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Colerain is located in Bertie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
    • Askewville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Askewville is located in Bertie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Askewville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
    • Drew
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Drew is located in Bertie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drew
    • Powellsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Powellsville is located in Bertie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
    • Hexlena
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Hexlena is located in Bertie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hexlena
  • Chowan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swain, with the one closest to Swain listed first.
    • Edenton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Mavaton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Mavaton is located in Chowan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavaton
    • Center Hill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Center Hill is located in Chowan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
    • Ryland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Ryland is located in Chowan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryland
    • Gliden
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Gliden is located in Chowan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gliden
  • Gates County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swain, with the one closest to Swain listed first.
    • Hobbsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Hobbsville is located in Gates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobbsville
    • Mintonsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Mintonsville is located in Gates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mintonsville
    • Mitchells Fork
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Mitchells Fork is located in Gates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchells Fork
    • Muddy Cross
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Muddy Cross is located in Gates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddy Cross
  • Hertford County
    • Harrellsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Harrellsville is located in Hertford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrellsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 95 people
  • Hyde County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swain, with the one closest to Swain listed first.
    • Mount Olive
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Mount Olive is located in Hyde County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
    • Scranton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Scranton is located in Hyde County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scranton
  • Martin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swain, with the one closest to Swain listed first.
    • Dardens
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Dardens is located in Martin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dardens
    • Jamesville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Williamston
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Bear Grass
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Bear Grass is located in Martin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Grass
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
    • Everetts
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Everetts is located in Martin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everetts
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 138 people
  • Pasquotank County
    • Nixonton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Nixonton is located in Pasquotank County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixonton
  • Perquimans County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swain, with the one closest to Swain listed first.
    • Bethel ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Bethel is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
    • Yeopim Station
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Yeopim Station is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeopim Station
      • Yeopim Station has also been known as:
      • Yeopim
    • Snug Harbor
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Snug Harbor is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snug Harbor
    • Burgess
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Burgess is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
    • Hertford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Winfall
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Belvidere
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Snow Hill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Snow Hill is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
    • Woodville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodville is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
    • Nicanor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Nicanor is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicanor
  • Tyrrell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swain, with the one closest to Swain listed first.
    • New Lands
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • New Lands is located in Tyrrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lands
    • Columbia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Alligator
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Alligator is located in Tyrrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alligator

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

Cemeteries Near Swain ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Swain.

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

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

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

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

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

  • Roper
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Roper is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roper
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 533 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roper <2>
  • Skinnersville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Skinnersville is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinnersville
  • Plymouth
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Avoca
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Avoca is located in Bertie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
  • Scuppernong
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Scuppernong is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scuppernong
  • Edenton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Sans Souci
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Sans Souci is located in Bertie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sans Souci
  • Dardens
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Dardens is located in Martin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dardens
  • Monticello ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Monticello is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
  • Creswell
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Mount Gould
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Gould is located in Bertie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gould
  • Jamesville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Yeopim Station
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Yeopim Station is located in Perquimans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeopim Station
      • Yeopim Station has also been known as:
      • Yeopim
    • Cisco
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Cisco is located in Chowan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cisco
    • Rockyhock
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Rockyhock is located in Chowan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockyhock

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

Newspapers Published in Swain ...

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 62 newspapers that have been published in the area around Swain.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Swain, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Swain.

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 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 Swain:

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 Swain, 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 '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- Swain) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.