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 Watkins Mill (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 Watkins Mill. 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 Watkins Mill ...
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.
- A typical abbreviation for Watkins Mill: Watkins Ml. (or less commonly used: Watkins Mll.)
- While the name of this community is Watkins Mill, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Watkins Mill may originally have been Watkin's Mill.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Watkins Mill might be written as Watkin Mill.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Watkins Mill. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Watkins Mill.
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 northwest 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 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.
Watkins Mill 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 Watkins Mill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Watkins Mill:
- Macon County (The home county of Watkins Mill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Scaly Mountain
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lickskillet
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Orlando
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Orlando is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Otto
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Franklin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Ellijay
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Leatherman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Tellico
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Tellico is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tellico
- Fairview
(26 miles [41.8 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 Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Topton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rhodo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rhodo is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodo
- Buffalo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Buffalo is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Elf
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Elf is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elf
- Hayesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Graham County
- Bear Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bear Creek is located in Graham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Highlands
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cashiers
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Erastus
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Erastus is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erastus
- Glenville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gay
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Gay is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
- Forest Hills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- 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 <2>
- Tuckasegee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cullowhee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Greens Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- East Laport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Argura
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Argura is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argura
- Webster
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Swain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Unahala
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Unahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
- Wesser
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wesser is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesser
- Almond
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nantahala
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nantahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
- Bryson City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Transylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Sapphire
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Lake Toxaway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rosman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Balsam Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Habersham County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Tugaloo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Tugaloo is located in Habersham County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tugaloo
- Turnerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Clarkesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hills is located in Habersham County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills
- Mauldins ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mauldins is located in Habersham County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauldins
- Estimated population in 2019: 225 people
- Rabun County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Sky Valley
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Dillard
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Antioch
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Antioch is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Mountain City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clayton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Germany
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Germany is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germany
- Tiger
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wiley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lakemont
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Tallulah Falls
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Stephens County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Jarrett
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Jarrett is located in Stephens County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,974 people
- Toccoa Falls
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Toccoa
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Towns County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Tate City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Tate City is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate City
- Hiawassee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hunt ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hunt is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt
- Young Harris
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- White County (GA)
- Sautee - Nacoochee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oconee County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Mountain Rest
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Longcreek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle Creek
- Tamassee
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Salem
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Walhalla
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Union
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Harbin ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Harbin is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbin
- Madison
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Madison is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
- Westminster
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Richland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Newry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pickens County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Nine Times
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Nine Times is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Times
- Rocky Bottom
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Rocky Bottom is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Bottom
- Sunset
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Crow Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Crow Creek is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Creek
- Six Mile
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Watkins Mill, see our County-by-County Page for Watkins Mill.
Cemeteries Near Watkins Mill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Watkins Mill.
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 Watkins Mill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Watkins Mill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Watkins Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Kelly Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Wilson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mc Connell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hale Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Duncan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Head of Tennesse Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wesley Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Kell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Valley Baptist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Miller Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (306 more) ...
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Moriah Cemetery
- The Mt. Moriah Cemetery has also been known as:
- Goldmine Cemetery
- Asbury UMC Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bettys Creek Baptist Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
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 Watkins Mill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Watkins Mill.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Watkins Mill, with the one closest to Watkins Mill listed first.
- Scaly Mountain
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Otto
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Highlands
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Mountain
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Mountain is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mountain
- Clayton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cullasaja
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cullasaja is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullasaja
- Franklin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Mountain Rest
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blalock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Blalock is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blalock
- Persimmon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Persimmon is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persimmon
- Tiger
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Whetstone
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Whetstone is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whetstone
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Cashiers
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ellijay
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Glenville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Watkins Mill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Watkins Mill.
Newspapers Published in Watkins Mill ...
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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Watkins Mill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Watkins Mill, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Watkins Mill.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Watkins Mill:
- 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
- Stephens County
- Towns County
- White County
- Oconee County
- Pickens County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for North Carolina
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Watkins Mill, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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- Watkins Mill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |