RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of North Carolina >> Yadkin County >> Swan Creek >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Swan 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 Swan 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 Swan 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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Swan Creek: Swan Crk. (or less commonly used: Swan Ck. or Swan Cr.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Swan Creek. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Swan 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 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.

Swan Creek is located in Yadkin 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 Yadkin County: Davie, Forsyth, Iredell, Stokes, Surry & Wilkes.

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

  • Yadkin County     (The home county of Swan Creek)
  • Alexander County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swan Creek, with the one closest to Swan Creek listed first.
    • Vashti
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Rocky Springs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Rocky Springs is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Springs
    • Hiddenite
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Midway
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Midway is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Stony Point
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairview Park
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairview Park is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Park
    • Taylorsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Isenhour Park
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Isenhour Park is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isenhour Park
    • Liledoun
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Liledoun is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liledoun
    • Ellendale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Millersville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Millersville is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
    • Taylorsville Beach
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Taylorsville Beach is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville Beach
  • Alleghany County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swan Creek, with the one closest to Swan Creek listed first.
    • Roaring Gap
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Glade Valley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Hooker
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Edmonds
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Ennice
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Sparta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Sparta is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,723 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sparta <1>
    • Laurel Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Ashe County
  • Davie County
  • Forsyth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swan Creek, with the one closest to Swan Creek listed first.
    • Cinnamon Ridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Cinnamon Ridge is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cinnamon Ridge
    • Donnaha
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Donnaha is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donnaha
    • Grapewood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Grapewood is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grapewood
    • Dozier
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Dozier is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dozier
    • Eaglewood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Eaglewood is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eaglewood
    • Heritage Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Heritage Village is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heritage Village
    • Hunters Trace
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Hunters Trace is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunters Trace
    • Lewisville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • River Ridge Run
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • River Ridge Run is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Ridge Run
    • Robin Hood Trace
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Robin Hood Trace is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robin Hood Trace
    • Sherwood Forest
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Sherwood Forest is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood Forest
    • Dorchester
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Dorchester is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
    • The Meadows
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • Iredell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swan Creek, with the one closest to Swan Creek listed first.
    • Union Grove
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • New Hope ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Houstonville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Love Valley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Olin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Olin is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olin
    • Harmony
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Turnersburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Turnersburg is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnersburg
    • Cool Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Scotts
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Scotts is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts
    • Brevard ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Brevard is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevard
    • Statesville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Belmont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Belmont is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
  • Rowan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swan Creek, with the one closest to Swan Creek listed first.
    • Pittsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Pittsburg is located in Rowan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
    • Needmore
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Needmore is located in Rowan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
    • Mount Vernon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Stokes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swan Creek, with the one closest to Swan Creek listed first.
    • Pinnacle
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Flat Rock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Flat Rock is located in Stokes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Rock
  • Surry County
  • Wilkes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swan Creek, with the one closest to Swan Creek listed first.
    • Clingman
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Pleasant Hill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Pleasant Hill is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
    • Ronda
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • New Castle ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • New Castle is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Castle
    • Brier Creek ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Brier Creek is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brier Creek
    • Roaring River
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Roaring River is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaring River
    • Zimmerman ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Zimmerman is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimmerman
    • Lomax
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Traphill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Zebra ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Zebra is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zebra
    • Fletcher ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Fletcher is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
    • Hays
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Henderson ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Henderson is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson
  • Carroll County (VA)
  • Grayson County (VA)

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

Cemeteries Near Swan Creek ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Swan 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 Swan Creek - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Swan Creek, with the one closest to Swan Creek 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Swan Creek had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Rena
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Rena is located in Yadkin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rena
  • Clingman
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Marler
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Jonesville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • New Castle ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • New Castle is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Castle
  • Longtown
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Longtown is located in Yadkin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longtown
  • Elkin
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Ronda
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Elkin Valley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Osbornville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Osbornville is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osbornville
  • Brier Creek ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Brier Creek is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brier Creek
  • Lovelace ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lovelace is located in Wilkes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovelace
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Swan 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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Swan Creek.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Swan 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 Swan Creek.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Swan Creek:

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 Swan Creek, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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 from Point A (ie- Swan Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.