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 Union (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 Union. 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.
Union is located in Macon 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 Macon County: Rabun (GA), Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson & Swain.
Below are the counties that are near Union. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Union:
- Macon County (The home county of Union)
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Riverside
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Franklin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Otto
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Orlando
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Orlando is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Ellijay
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Lickskillet
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Scaly Mountain
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Leatherman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Tellico
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Tellico is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tellico
- Fairview
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Topton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rhodo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Rhodo is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodo
- Buffalo
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Buffalo is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Andrews
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Coalville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Coalville is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Marble
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Elf
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Elf is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elf
- Hayesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Warne
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Graham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Bear Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bear Creek is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Stecoah
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stecoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stecoah
- Cheoah
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cheoah is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheoah
- Robbinsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Highlands
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Erastus
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Erastus is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erastus
- Gay
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Gay is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
- Glenville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Cashiers
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Forest Hills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- 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>
- Greens Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- Cullowhee
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- East Laport
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Tuckasegee
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Webster
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Dillsboro
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sylva
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Swain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Unahala
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Unahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
- Wesser
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Wesser is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesser
- Almond
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Nantahala
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Nantahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
- Bryson City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Judson ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Judson is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Forney ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Forney is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forney
- Bushnell ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bushnell is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushnell
- Cherokee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Transylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Sapphire
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Lake Toxaway
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Balsam Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Habersham County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Tugaloo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Tugaloo is located in Habersham County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tugaloo
- Turnerville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Rabun County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Sky Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Dillard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mountain City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Germany
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Germany is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germany
- Antioch
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Antioch is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Clayton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Tiger
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Wiley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lakemont
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Tallulah Falls
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Towns County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Tate City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tate City is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate City
- Hunt ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hunt is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt
- Hiawassee
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Young Harris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Jacksonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jacksonville is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Estimated population in 2019: 5,239 people
- Oconee County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Mountain Rest
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Longcreek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle Creek
- Tamassee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Salem
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Walhalla
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Union, see our County-by-County Page for Union.
Cemeteries Near Union ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Union.
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 Union - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Union covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Addington Community Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mc Ghee Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Black Mtn. Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Rush Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Stiles Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Asbury UMC Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Angel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wells Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Franklin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mc Connell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Moriah Cemetery
- The Mt. Moriah Cemetery has also been known as:
- Goldmine Cemetery
- Continue List (301 more) ...
- Fout Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wilson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Miller Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
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 Union in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Union.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Otto
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Franklin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Cullasaja
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Cullasaja is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullasaja
- Scaly Mountain
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ellijay
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Leatherman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Highlands
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Aquone
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Aquone is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquone
- Glenville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Fallcliff
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fallcliff is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallcliff
- Shooting Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shooting Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shooting Creek
- Blalock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blalock is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blalock
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Persimmon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Persimmon is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persimmon
- Clayton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Cashiers
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Union. See our List of 1890's Communities around Union.
Newspapers Published in Union ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Union.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Union, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Union.
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 Union:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Macon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cherokee County
- Clay County
- Graham County
- Jackson County
- Swain County
- Transylvania County
- Habersham County
- Rabun County
- Towns County
- Oconee 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> | 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 Union, 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- Union) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |