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 Valley 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 Valley 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 Valley 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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Valley Creek: Valley Crk. (or less commonly used: Valley Ck. or Valley Cr.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Valley Creek. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Valley 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Valley Creek is located in Watauga 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 Watauga County: Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Wilkes & Johnson (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Valley Creek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Valley Creek:
- Watauga County (The home county of Valley Creek)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Foscoe
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Matney
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Matney is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Shulls Mill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shulls Mill is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shulls Mill
- Valle Crucis
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Rominger
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Rominger is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rominger
- Sugar Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Vilas
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Watauga Falls ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Watauga Falls is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watauga Falls
- Boone
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bamboo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Bamboo is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamboo
- Norris ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Norris is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Sands
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sands is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Mabel
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Mabel is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
- Ashe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Brownwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brownwood is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
- Todd
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fleetwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ashland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Ashland is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Creston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Yates
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Yates is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Roten
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Roten is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roten
- West Jefferson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Obids
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Obids is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obids
- Comet
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Comet is located in Ashe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet
- Jefferson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Warrensville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Glendale Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Avery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Seven Devils
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Sugar Mountain
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Sugar Mountain is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Grandfather
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Grandfather is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandfather
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
- Banner Elk
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Beech Mountain
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Linville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Montezuma
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Montezuma is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
- Newland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Vale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Vale is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vale
- Whaley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Whaley is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
- Pineola
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Elk Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Minneapolis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Minneapolis is located in Avery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minneapolis
- Burke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Jonas Ridge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chesterfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Chesterfield is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
- Linville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Linville is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Calvin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Calvin is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
- Glen Alpine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Morganton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Drexel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Drexel is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drexel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,861 people
- Magnolia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Magnolia is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Parkhill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Parkhill is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkhill
- Valdese
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Blowing Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Mortimer ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Mortimer is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mortimer
- Mulberry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mulberry is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Rufus
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rufus is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rufus
- Collettsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Patterson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Patterson is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Adako
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Adako is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adako
- Muttenz ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Muttenz is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muttenz
- Cilley ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Cilley is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cilley
- Abingdon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Abingdon is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abingdon
- Lenoir
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lenoir is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenoir
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17,911 people
- Former name for Lenoir:
- Tucker's Barn
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lenoir <1>
- Gamewell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gamewell is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gamewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,993 people
- Pinehurst
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pinehurst is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehurst
- McDowell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Ashford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ashford is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
- Little Switzerland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Nebo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Altapass
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Altapass is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altapass
- Bakersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Spruce Pine
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Little Rock Creek ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Little Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Creek
- Penland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Buladean
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Buladean is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladean
- Grassy Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Grassy Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy Creek
- Herrell ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Herrell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrell
- Red Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Red Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Tipton Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Tipton Hill is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton Hill
- Relief
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Relief is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Relief
- Richlands
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Richlands is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
- Bailey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bailey is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
- Wilkes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Hendrix ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Hendrix is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
- Maple Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Maple Springs is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Springs
- Ferguson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Mount Pleasant
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Purlear
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Purlear is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purlear
- Wilbar
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Wilbar is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbar
- Boomer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Boomer is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boomer
- Yancey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Double Island
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Double Island is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Island
- Newdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Newdale is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newdale
- Green Mountain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Micaville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Celo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Celo is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Celo
- Day Book
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Day Book is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day Book
- Carter County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Shell Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Shell Creek is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shell Creek
- Estimated population in 2014: 21,037 people
- Heaton Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Heaton Creek is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heaton Creek
- Roan Mountain
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Burbank
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Burbank is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burbank
- Fish Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Fish Springs is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Springs
- Hampton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Tolley Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Tolley Town is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolley Town
- Buladeen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Buladeen is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladeen
- Former names for Buladeen:
- Colesville
- Magnetic
- Siam
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Siam is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siam
- Woodby Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Woodby Hill is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodby Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,730 people
- Hunter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hunter is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Gap Run
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Gap Run is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gap Run
- Elizabethton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Johnson County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Norris
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Norris is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,652 people
- Trade
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
- High Health ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- High Health is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Health
- Butler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Dowell ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Dowell is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowell
- Estimated population in 2014: 364 people
- Fuller
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Fuller is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Winchester
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Winchester is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Estimated population in 2014: 8,547 people
- Shingletown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Shingletown is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shingletown
- Sullivan County (TN)
- Fishdam ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fishdam is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishdam
- Unicoi County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Limestone Cove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Limestone Cove is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone Cove
- Whispering Pines
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Whispering Pines is located in Unicoi County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Pines
- Unicoi
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Valley Creek, see our County-by-County Page for Valley Creek.
Cemeteries Near Valley Creek ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Valley 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 Valley Creek - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Valley Creek covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Jestes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- McLean Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Shook Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Foscoe Community Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Byrd Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Calloway Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Byrd Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Boone Fork Community Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- White Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Coffey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shull Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Michael Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (702 more) ...
- Gragg Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- White Spring Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Baldwin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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 Valley Creek in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Valley Creek.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
- Foscoe
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Shulls Mill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shulls Mill is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shulls Mill
- Kelsey
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Kelsey is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsey
- Valle Crucis
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Blowing Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Upton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Upton is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upton
- Watauga Falls ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Watauga Falls is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watauga Falls
- Vilas
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Sugar Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Globe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Globe is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Boone
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Amantha
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Amantha is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amantha
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Leander
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Leander is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leander
- Aho
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Aho is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aho
- Sweetwater
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Sweetwater is located in Watauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetwater
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Valley Creek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Valley Creek.
Newspapers Published in Valley 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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Valley Creek.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Valley Creek, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Valley Creek.
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 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 Valley Creek:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Watauga County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Ashe County
- Avery County
- Burke County
- Caldwell County
- McDowell County
- Mitchell County
- Wilkes County
- Yancey County
- Carter County
- Johnson County
- Sullivan County
- Unicoi 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 Valley Creek, 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 from Point A (ie- Valley Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |