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 West Haven (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 West Haven. 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 West Haven ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Haven: W. Haven
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Haven. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Haven.
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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
West Haven is located in Buncombe 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 Buncombe County: Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Rutherford, Transylvania & Yancey.
Below are the counties that are near West Haven. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Haven:
- Buncombe County (The home county of West Haven)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Haven, with the one closest to West Haven listed first.
- Avery Creek
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Avery Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery Creek
- Arden
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Royal Pines
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Royal Pines is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Pines
- Busbee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Busbee is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busbee
- Skyland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bent Creek
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bent Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Creek
- Biltmore Forest
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Biltmore Forest is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biltmore Forest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,431 people
- Shiloh
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shiloh is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Enka Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Enka Village is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enka Village
- Enka
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sayles Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sayles Village is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sayles Village
- Acton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Acton is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
- Candler
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Haven, with the one closest to West Haven listed first.
- Cruso
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cruso is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruso
- Morning Star
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Morning Star is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morning Star
- Canton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- West Canton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- West Canton is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Canton
- Bethel
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Sonoma ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Sonoma is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- Clyde
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lavinia ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lavinia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
- Lake Junaluska
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Waynesville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hazelwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Hazelwood is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Teague ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Teague is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
- Maggie Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Haven, with the one closest to West Haven listed first.
- Fletcher
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mills River
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Naples
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Naples is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naples
- Holly Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Holly Springs is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Horse Shoe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mountain Home
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Etowah
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Balfour
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Balfour is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balfour
- Cumberland Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cumberland Village is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Village
- Pinehurst
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pinehurst is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehurst
- Laurel Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sky Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sky Village is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sky Village
- Carolina Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Carolina Village is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina Village
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Haven, with the one closest to West Haven listed first.
- Balsam
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Argura
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Argura is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argura
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Haven, with the one closest to West Haven listed first.
- Rollins
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Rollins is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollins
- Marshall
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Ivy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ivy is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivy
- Mars Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Petersburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Petersburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Trust
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Trust is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
- Walnut
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Walnut is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Spring Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Creek is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Bethel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bethel is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Lynch ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lynch is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch
- Stackhouse
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Stackhouse is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stackhouse
- Bluff
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bluff is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff
- McDowell County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Haven, with the one closest to West Haven listed first.
- Dendron
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Dendron is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dendron
- Moffitt Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Moffitt Hill is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moffitt Hill
- Old Fort
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lackey Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lackey Town is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackey Town
- Greenlee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Greenlee is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlee
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Haven, with the one closest to West Haven listed first.
- Melrose
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Melrose is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Lynn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lynn is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Columbus
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mill Spring
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tryon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rutherford County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Haven, with the one closest to West Haven listed first.
- Village of Chimney Rock Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- 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
- Chimney Rock
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lake Lure
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Otter Creek ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Otter Creek is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter Creek
- Whitehouse
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Whitehouse is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehouse
- Green Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Green Hill is located in Rutherford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Transylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Haven, with the one closest to West Haven listed first.
- Penrose
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Seven Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Seven Springs is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Springs
- Pisgah Forest
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brevard
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Mountain
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Balsam Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- East Fork
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- East Fork is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
- Rosman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Toxaway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Yancey County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Haven, with the one closest to West Haven listed first.
- Murchison
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Murchison is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murchison
- Pensacola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pensacola is located in Yancey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pensacola
- Greenville County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Haven, with the one closest to West Haven listed first.
- Merrittsville ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Merrittsville is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrittsville
- Caesars Head
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Caesars Head is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caesars Head
- Cleveland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Highland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Highland is located in Greenville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Slater
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Tigerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Spartanburg County (SC)
- Landrum
(29 miles [46.7 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>
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Haven, see our County-by-County Page for West Haven.
Cemeteries Near West Haven ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Haven.
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 West Haven - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Haven covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Haven, with the one closest to West Haven listed first.
- Baker Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Long Shoals Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hunter Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Calvary Churchyard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Stuart Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jones Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Williams Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Whitaker Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mills River Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Patty's Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Acton UMC Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sunset Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (408 more) ...
- West Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Harkins Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brooks Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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 West Haven in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Haven.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Haven, with the one closest to West Haven listed first.
- Avery Creek
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Avery Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery Creek
- Arden
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Skyland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Busbee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Busbee is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busbee
- Fletcher
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mills River
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Buena Vista
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Biltmore
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Biltmore is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biltmore
- Sulphur Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Acton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Acton is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
- West Asheville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- West Asheville is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Asheville
- Candler
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Murphy Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Murphy Junction is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphy Junction
- Horse Shoe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Asheville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Haven. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Haven.
Newspapers Published in West Haven ...
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 84 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Haven.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Haven, 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 West Haven.
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 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 West Haven:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Buncombe County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Haywood County
- Henderson County
- Jackson County
- Madison County
- McDowell County
- Polk County
- Rutherford County
- Transylvania County
- Yancey County
- Greenville 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 West Haven, 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- West Haven) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |