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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 Valdese (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 Valdese. 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.

Valdese is located in Burke 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 Burke County: Avery, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell & Rutherford.

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

  • Burke County     (The home county of Valdese)
  • Alexander County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valdese, with the one closest to Valdese listed first.
    • Bethlehem
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Bethlehem is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
    • Little River
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Little River is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little River
    • Taylorsville Beach
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Taylorsville Beach is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville Beach
    • Ellendale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Millersville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Millersville is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
    • Isenhour Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Isenhour Park is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isenhour Park
    • Liledoun
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Liledoun is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liledoun
    • Taylorsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Fairview Park
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Fairview Park is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Park
    • Midway
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Midway is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Hiddenite
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Rocky Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rocky Springs is located in Alexander County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Springs
  • Avery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valdese, with the one closest to Valdese listed first.
    • Linville Falls
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Pineola
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Crossnore
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Linville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Stamey Town
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Stamey Town is located in Avery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stamey Town
    • Grandfather
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Montezuma
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Montezuma is located in Avery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
    • Mount Pleasant
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Avery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
  • Caldwell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valdese, with the one closest to Valdese listed first.
    • Baton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Sawmills
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Sawmills is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,156 people
    • Cajah's Mountain
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Cajah's Mountain is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cajah's Mountain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,728 people
    • Pinehurst
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Pinehurst is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehurst
    • Gamewell
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Granite Falls
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Hudson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Northlakes
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Northlakes is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northlakes
    • Concord ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Concord is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Abingdon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Lenoir
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Muttenz ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Muttenz is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muttenz
  • Catawba County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valdese, with the one closest to Valdese listed first.
    • Advent Crossroads
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Long View
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Long View is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long View
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,951 people
    • Mountain View
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Mountain View is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain View
    • Cooksville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cooksville is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooksville
    • Meadow Brook Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Meadow Brook Village is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Brook Village
    • Brookford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Brookford is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 381 people
    • Hickory
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Viewmont
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Viewmont is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viewmont
    • North Hickory
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • North Hickory is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hickory
    • Banoak
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Banoak is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banoak
    • Propst Crossroads
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Propst Crossroads is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Propst Crossroads
    • Sweetwater
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Sweetwater is located in Catawba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetwater
  • Cleveland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valdese, with the one closest to Valdese listed first.
    • Olive Grove
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Olive Grove is located in Cleveland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olive Grove
    • Knob Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Toluca
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Toluca is located in Cleveland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toluca
    • Casar
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Cleveland Mills ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Cleveland Mills is located in Cleveland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland Mills
    • Belwood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Belwood is located in Cleveland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 963 people
    • Delight
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Fallston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Lawndale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Polkville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Polkville is located in Cleveland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 552 people
    • Beam Mill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Wilson ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Wilson is located in Cleveland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
  • Gaston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valdese, with the one closest to Valdese listed first.
    • Dellview
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Dellview is located in Gaston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dellview
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 13 people
    • Cherryville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Perry
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Tryon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Iredell County
    • Brevard ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Brevard is located in Iredell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevard
  • Lincoln County
  • McDowell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valdese, with the one closest to Valdese listed first.
    • Patten
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Mountain Home ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Mountain Home is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
    • Nebo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Ashford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Glenwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Glenwood is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
    • Marion
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Vein Mountain
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • West Marion
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • West Marion is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Marion
    • Providence
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Providence is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
    • Sugar Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Little Switzerland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Mitchell County
  • Rutherford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valdese, with the one closest to Valdese listed first.
    • Hollis
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Sunshine
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Mount Pisgah ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Mount Pisgah is located in Rutherford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pisgah
    • Thermal City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Thermal City is located in Rutherford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thermal City
    • Union Mills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Washburn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ellenboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Bostic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Cuba ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cuba is located in Rutherford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
  • Watauga County
  • Wilkes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valdese, with the one closest to Valdese listed first.
    • Ferguson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hendrix ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Hendrix is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
    • Boomer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Boomer is located in Wilkes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boomer

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

Cemeteries Near Valdese ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Valdese.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Valdese, with the one closest to Valdese 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.<4>

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

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

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Valdese ...

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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Valdese.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Valdese. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Valdese and those printed in the larger area surrounding Valdese.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<2> of Valdese.

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 Valdese:

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>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- Valdese) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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>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 Valdese, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.