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 Valhalla (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 Valhalla. 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.
Valhalla is located in Polk 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 Polk County: Henderson, Rutherford, Greenville (SC) & Spartanburg (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Valhalla. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Valhalla:
- Polk County (The home county of Valhalla)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valhalla, with the one closest to Valhalla listed first.
- Lynn
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Lynn is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Tryon
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Melrose
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Melrose is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Columbus
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mill Spring
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buncombe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valhalla, with the one closest to Valhalla listed first.
- Fairview
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Arden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Royal Pines
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Royal Pines is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Pines
- Busbee
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Busbee is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busbee
- Skyland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Avery Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Avery Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery Creek
- Swannanoa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Biltmore Forest
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Biltmore Forest is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biltmore Forest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,431 people
- Black Mountain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Ridgecrest
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Azalea
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Azalea is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Azalea
- Bent Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bent Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Creek
- Cleveland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valhalla, with the one closest to Valhalla listed first.
- Cliffside
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cliffside is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffside
- Byersville ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Byersville is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byersville
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valhalla, with the one closest to Valhalla listed first.
- Saluda
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Baxter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Baxter is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
- Upward
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Upward is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upward
- Zirconia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Dana
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dana is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- East Flat Rock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tuxedo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Claremont
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Claremont is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
- Flat Rock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Barker Heights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Barker Heights is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Heights
- Mount Olive
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Mount Olive is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Carolina Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Carolina Village is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina Village
- McDowell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valhalla, with the one closest to Valhalla listed first.
- Moffitt Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Moffitt Hill is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moffitt Hill
- Lackey Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Lackey Town is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackey Town
- Sugar Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Hill is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Hill
- Old Fort
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Vein Mountain
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Vein Mountain is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vein Mountain
- Dendron
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Dendron is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dendron
- Providence
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Providence is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Rutherford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valhalla, with the one closest to Valhalla listed first.
- Chimney Rock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Village of Chimney Rock Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Village of Chimney Rock Village is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village of Chimney Rock Village
- Estimated population in 2015: 108 people
- Lake Lure
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Green Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Green Hill is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Shiloh
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Shiloh is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Rutherfordton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Holly Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Holly Springs is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Bakersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bakersville is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
- Ruth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ruth is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
- Spindale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Harris
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Harris is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Cuba ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cuba is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Transylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valhalla, with the one closest to Valhalla listed first.
- Penrose
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Cedar Mountain
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Seven Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Seven Springs is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Springs
- Pisgah Forest
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Brevard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- East Fork
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- East Fork is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
- Cherokee County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valhalla, with the one closest to Valhalla listed first.
- Chesnee
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Macedonia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Macedonia is located in Cherokee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Greenville County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valhalla, with the one closest to Valhalla listed first.
- Gowensville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Gowensville is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowensville
- Highland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Highland is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Merrittsville ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Merrittsville is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrittsville
- Tigerville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- O'Neal
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- O'Neal is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neal
- Cleveland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Slater
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Greer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Greer is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 35,316 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Greer <1>
- Marietta
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Chick Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Chick Springs is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
- Travelers Rest
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Caesars Head
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Caesars Head is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caesars Head
- Pickens County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valhalla, with the one closest to Valhalla listed first.
- Dacusville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dacusville is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dacusville
- Knob ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Knob is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
- Spartanburg County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valhalla, with the one closest to Valhalla listed first.
- Landrum
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Landrum is located in Spartanburg County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landrum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,725 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Landrum <1>
- Campobello
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gramling
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fingerville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Inman Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Inman Mills is located in Spartanburg County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inman Mills
- Inman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Inman is located in Spartanburg County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,480 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Inman <1>
- Brooklyn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Brooklyn is located in Spartanburg County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Duncan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Duncan is located in Spartanburg County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,715 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Duncan <1>
- Boiling Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lyman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lyman is located in Spartanburg County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,796 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lyman <1>
- Wellford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Valley Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Valhalla, see our County-by-County Page for Valhalla.
Cemeteries Near Valhalla ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Valhalla.
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 Valhalla - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Valhalla covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Valhalla, with the one closest to Valhalla listed first.
- Rock Springs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Good Shepherd Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Polk Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bradley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bradley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jones - Price Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Patty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mountain Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jones Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Glassy Mtn. Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Gowansville Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (349 more) ...
- Evergreen Memorial Gardens
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bethlehem United Methodist Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
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 Valhalla in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Valhalla.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Valhalla, with the one closest to Valhalla listed first.
- Tryon
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Lynn
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Lynn is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Melrose
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Melrose is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Columbus
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Saluda
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Landrum
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Landrum is located in Spartanburg County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landrum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,725 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Landrum <1>
- Glassy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Glassy is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glassy
- Gowensville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Gowensville is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowensville
- Baxter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Baxter is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
- Upward
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Upward is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upward
- Zirconia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Merrittsville ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Merrittsville is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrittsville
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Highland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Highland is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Tyger ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Tyger is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyger
- Campobello
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Valhalla. See our List of 1890's Communities around Valhalla.
Newspapers Published in Valhalla ...
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 Valhalla.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Valhalla, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Valhalla.
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 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 Valhalla:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buncombe County
- Cleveland County
- Henderson County
- McDowell County
- Rutherford County
- Transylvania County
- Cherokee County
- Greenville County
- Pickens County
- Spartanburg 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 Valhalla, 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- Valhalla) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |