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 Watson (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 Watson. 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 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.
Watson is located in Union 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 Union County: Anson, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Stanly, Chesterfield (SC) & Lancaster (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Watson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Watson:
- Union County (The home county of Watson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson, with the one closest to Watson listed first.
- Fairfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Fairfield is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
- Unionville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Unionville is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,344 people
- Wingate
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Marshville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,984 people
- Rock Rest
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Rock Rest is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Rest
- Monroe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Allens Crossroads
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Allens Crossroads is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Crossroads
- Carmel Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Carmel Village is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmel Village
- Hemby Bridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Hemby Bridge is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemby Bridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,846 people
- Lake Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lake Park is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,999 people
- Indian Trail
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Anson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson, with the one closest to Watson listed first.
- Burnsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Burnsville is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Peachland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Polkton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Polkton is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,288 people
- Mineral Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mineral Springs is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Sugar Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Sugar Town is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Town
- Roper ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Roper is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roper
- Ansonville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ansonville is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 586 people
- Wadesboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Jones Creek ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Jones Creek is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Creek
- Lilesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Morven
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Morven is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morven
- Population from the 2020 Census: 465 people
- Cairo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cairo is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Cabarrus County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson, with the one closest to Watson listed first.
- Midland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bosts Mill ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Bosts Mill is located in Cabarrus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bosts Mill
- Georgeville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Georgeville is located in Cabarrus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgeville
- Harrisburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Pleasant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Concord
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Rimer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Rimer is located in Cabarrus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rimer
- Poplar Tent
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Poplar Tent is located in Cabarrus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Tent
- Cannon Crossroads
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cannon Crossroads is located in Cabarrus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon Crossroads
- Cannon Crossroads has also been known as:
- Cannon Cross Roads
- Cannon's Crossroads
- Wallace Cross Roads
- Wallace Crossroads
- Mecklenburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson, with the one closest to Watson listed first.
- Allen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Allen is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Mint Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Matthews
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Weddington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Providence ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Providence is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Newell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Newell is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell
- Chantilly
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Chantilly is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chantilly
- Belmont
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Belmont is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Charlotte
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pineville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Biddleville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Biddleville is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biddleville
- Greenville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Greenville is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson, with the one closest to Watson listed first.
- Mount Gilead
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Mount Gilead is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gilead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,141 people
- Wadeville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wadeville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadeville
- Richmond County
- Mangum
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Mangum is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mangum
- Rowan County
- Kannapolis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Stanly County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson, with the one closest to Watson listed first.
- Stanfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Oakboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Locust
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Red Cross
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Red Cross is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Cross
- Population from the 2020 Census: 769 people
- Lambert
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lambert is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambert
- Bloomington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Bloomington is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomington
- Cedar Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Village is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Village
- Norwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Millingport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Millingport is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millingport
- Plyer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Plyer is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plyer
- Albemarle
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Badin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chesterfield County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson, with the one closest to Watson listed first.
- Pageland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Mount Croghan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- White Plains
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- White Plains is located in Chesterfield County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
- Ruby
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ruby is located in Chesterfield County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ruby <1>
- Jefferson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Chesterfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lancaster County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson, with the one closest to Watson listed first.
- Colonial Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Colonial Village is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
- Indian Land
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Camp Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Camp Creek is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Creek
- Camp Cox
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Camp Cox is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Cox
- Union
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Union is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Van Wyck
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Primus
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Primus is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primus
- Springdell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Springdell is located in Lancaster County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdell
- York County (SC)
- Fort Mill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Watson, see our County-by-County Page for Watson.
Cemeteries Near Watson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Watson.
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 Watson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Watson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Watson, with the one closest to Watson listed first.
- Williams Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Presson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Davis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hill Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wingate Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Baucoms Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bentons Crossroads Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Crook Family Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Emmanuel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Suncrest Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (122 more) ...
- Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lakeland Memorial Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Watson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Watson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Watson, with the one closest to Watson listed first.
- Unionville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Unionville is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,344 people
- Olive Branch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Olive Branch is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olive Branch
- Monroe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rock Rest
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Rock Rest is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Rest
- Peachland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Stouts
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Stouts is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stouts
- Furrs ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Furrs is located in Cabarrus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furrs
- Polkton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Polkton is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,288 people
- Hoods ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Hoods is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoods
- Indian Trail
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Altan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Altan is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altan
- Burdett ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Burdett is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdett
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Mint Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Poplar Hill ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Poplar Hill is located in Anson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Hill
- Cottonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cottonville is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Watson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Watson.
Newspapers Published in Watson ...
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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around Watson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Watson, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Watson.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Watson:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Union County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anson County
- Cabarrus County
- Mecklenburg County
- Montgomery County
- Richmond County
- Rowan County
- Stanly County
- Chesterfield County
- Lancaster County
- York 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> | 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 Watson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Watson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |