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 Philadelphia (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 Philadelphia. 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 Philadelphia ...
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 West Philadelphia: W. Philadelphia
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Philadelphia. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Philadelphia.
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 hospitals 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.
West Philadelphia is located in Moore 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 Moore County: Chatham, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond & Scotland.
Below are the counties that are near West Philadelphia. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Philadelphia:
- Moore County (The home county of West Philadelphia)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Philadelphia, with the one closest to West Philadelphia listed first.
- Zion Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Zion Grove is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion Grove
- Robbins
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Dover
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Dover is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Eagle Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Jugtown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jugtown is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jugtown
- Harris
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Harris is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Seven Lakes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Seven Lakes is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Lakes
- Parkwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Parkwood is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
- West End
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jackson Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Jackson Springs is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Springs
- Carthage
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Foxfire
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Foxfire is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxfire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,061 people
- Chatham County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Philadelphia, with the one closest to West Philadelphia listed first.
- Bennett
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Carbonton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Carbonton is located in Chatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbonton
- Bear Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bear Creek is located in Chatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Bonlee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bonlee is located in Chatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonlee
- Goldston
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Gulf
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Gulf is located in Chatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf
- Siler City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Farmville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Davidson County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Philadelphia, with the one closest to West Philadelphia listed first.
- Complex
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Complex is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Complex
- Handy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Handy is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Handy
- Denton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Harnett County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Philadelphia, with the one closest to West Philadelphia listed first.
- Murchisontown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Murchisontown is located in Harnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murchisontown
- Olivia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hoke County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Philadelphia, with the one closest to West Philadelphia listed first.
- Ashley Heights
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ashley Heights is located in Hoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Heights
- Five Points
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Five Points is located in Hoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Philadelphia, with the one closest to West Philadelphia listed first.
- White Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- White Hill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hill
- Quail Ridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Quail Ridge is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quail Ridge
- Tramway
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Tramway is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tramway
- Western Hills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Western Hills is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western Hills
- Wildwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wildwood is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
- Glenwood Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Glenwood Village is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood Village
- Lemon Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lemon Springs is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lemon Springs
- Parkwood Estates
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Parkwood Estates is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood Estates
- Cumnock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cumnock is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumnock
- Green Valley Estates
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Sanford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Jonesboro Heights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Jonesboro Heights is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesboro Heights
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Philadelphia, with the one closest to West Philadelphia listed first.
- Candor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Biscoe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Star
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Ether
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Ether is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ether
- Allreds
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Allreds is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allreds
- Asbury
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Asbury is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asbury
- Troy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Troy is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,293 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Troy <1>
- Shiloh ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Shiloh is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Abner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Abner is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abner
- Wadeville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Wadeville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadeville
- Ophir
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ophir is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophir
- Eldorado
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Eldorado is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Philadelphia, with the one closest to West Philadelphia listed first.
- Yow Mill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Yow Mill is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yow Mill
- Seagrove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Michfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Michfield is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michfield
- Coleridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Coleridge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleridge
- Eleazer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Eleazer is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleazer
- Asheboro
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Ramseur
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Mechanic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mechanic is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanic
- Cedar Falls
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Cedar Falls is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Falls
- Franklinville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Central Falls
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Central Falls is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Falls
- Millboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Millboro is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millboro
- Richmond County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Philadelphia, with the one closest to West Philadelphia listed first.
- Norman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Norman is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
- Ellerbe
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Hoffman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hoffman is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 571 people
- Mangum
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mangum is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mangum
- Marston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Marston is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Honey Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Honey Town is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Town
- Stanly County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Philadelphia, with the one closest to West Philadelphia listed first.
- Badin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Palmerville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Palmerville is located in Stanly County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmerville
- Norwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Albemarle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Philadelphia, see our County-by-County Page for West Philadelphia.
Cemeteries Near West Philadelphia ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Philadelphia.
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 Philadelphia - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Philadelphia covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Philadelphia, with the one closest to West Philadelphia listed first.
- New Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Carmel Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pine Rest Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shamburger Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Biscoe Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Lewis Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Candor Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Scott Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- New Zion Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gillis Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sedberry Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Continue List (111 more) ...
- Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cagle Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Allen Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<2>
While we didn't find West Philadelphia in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Philadelphia.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Philadelphia, with the one closest to West Philadelphia listed first.
- Candor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Star
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Ether
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Ether is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ether
- Allreds
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Allreds is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allreds
- Asbury
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Asbury is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asbury
- West End
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Okeewemee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Okeewemee is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okeewemee
- Jackson Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Jackson Springs is located in Moore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Springs
- Onvil
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Onvil is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onvil
- Carthage
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Troy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Troy is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,293 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Troy <1>
- Harrisville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Harrisville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Cheeks
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Cheeks is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheeks
- Pisgah
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pisgah is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Immer
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Immer is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Immer
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Philadelphia. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Philadelphia.
Newspapers Published in West Philadelphia ...
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 59 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Philadelphia.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Philadelphia, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Philadelphia.
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 West Philadelphia:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Moore County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chatham County
- Davidson County
- Harnett County
- Hoke County
- Lee County
- Montgomery County
- Randolph County
- Richmond County
- Stanly 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 West Philadelphia, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- West Philadelphia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |