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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 Westwood (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 Westwood. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and 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.

Westwood is located in Guilford 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 Guilford County: Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Forsyth, Randolph, Rockingham & Stokes.

Below are the counties that are near Westwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Westwood:

  • Guilford County     (The home county of Westwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
    • Fairfield
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Fairfield is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
    • Spicewood
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Spicewood is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spicewood
    • White Oak
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • White Oak is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Pomona
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Pomona is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pomona
    • Guilford College
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Guilford College is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guilford College
    • Latham Town
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Latham Town is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latham Town
    • Cumberland
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Cumberland is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
    • Greensboro
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Southmont
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Southmont is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southmont
    • Rudd
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rudd is located in Guilford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudd
    • Summerfield
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Ridge
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Alamance County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
    • Glenwood Acres
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Glenwood Acres is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood Acres
    • Westbrook Forest
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Westbrook Forest is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook Forest
    • Westbrook
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Westbrook is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook
    • Country Club Acres
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Country Club Acres is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Club Acres
    • The Country
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • The Country is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Country
    • Elon College
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Elon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Elon is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,186 people
    • Mark View
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Mark View is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mark View
    • Ossipee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Ossipee is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ossipee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 593 people
    • Random Hills
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Random Hills is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Random Hills
    • Westview
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Westview is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westview
    • Alamance Acres
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Alamance Acres is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamance Acres
  • Caswell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
    • Ashland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Ashland is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Stony Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Stony Creek is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Creek
    • Locust Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Locust Hill is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Hill
    • Quick
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Quick is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quick
    • Anderson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Anderson is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
    • Jericho
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jericho is located in Caswell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
  • Davidson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
    • Abotts Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Abotts Creek is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abotts Creek
    • Wallburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Thomasville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bethany ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Bethany is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
    • Gum Tree
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Gum Tree is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gum Tree
    • Eden ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Eden is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
    • Fair Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Fair Grove is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Grove
    • Midway
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Midway is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,951 people
    • Welcome
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Arcadia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Arcadia is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Holly Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Holly Grove is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Grove
    • Jefferson Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Jefferson Village is located in Davidson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson Village
  • Forsyth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
    • Applegate
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Applegate is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Applegate
    • Benefit ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Benefit is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benefit
    • Cliffwood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Cliffwood is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffwood
    • Pine Knolls
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Pine Knolls is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Knolls
    • Horneytown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Horneytown is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horneytown
    • Bonanza Hills
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Bonanza Hills is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonanza Hills
    • Christy Acres
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Christy Acres is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christy Acres
    • Emorywood Estates
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Emorywood Estates is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emorywood Estates
    • Kernersville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Kimberly Acres
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Kimberly Acres is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimberly Acres
    • Yorktown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Yorktown is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
    • Beeson Crossroads
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Beeson Crossroads is located in Forsyth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beeson Crossroads
  • Randolph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
    • Archdale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Redcross
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Redcross is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redcross
    • Trinity
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • New Market
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • New Market is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Market
    • Randleman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Sophia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Melanchton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Melanchton is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melanchton
    • Millboro
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Millboro is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millboro
    • Worthville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Worthville is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthville
    • Liberty
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Central Falls
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Central Falls is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Falls
    • Cedar Falls
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Cedar Falls is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Falls
  • Rockingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
    • Wittys Crossroads
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Wittys Crossroads is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittys Crossroads
    • Gold Hill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Gold Hill is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Hill
    • Ellisboro
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Ellisboro is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellisboro
    • Belmont
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Belmont is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
    • Norwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Norwood is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
    • Reidsville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Wentworth
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Wentworth is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wentworth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,734 people
    • Madison
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Mayodan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • College Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • College Village is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Village
    • Shiloh
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Shiloh is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Lawsonville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Lawsonville is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonville
  • Stokes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
    • Pine Hall
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Fulp
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Fulp is located in Stokes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulp
    • Walnut Cove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Bailey Town
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Bailey Town is located in Stokes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
    • Germanton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Meadows
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Meadows is located in Stokes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadows
    • Upper Sawra Town ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Upper Sawra Town is located in Stokes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Sawra Town
    • Neatman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Neatman is located in Stokes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neatman
    • Danbury
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Quaker Gap
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Quaker Gap is located in Stokes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quaker Gap
    • Amostown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Amostown is located in Stokes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amostown
    • Sandy Ridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Westwood, see our County-by-County Page for Westwood.

Cemeteries Near Westwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westwood.

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 Westwood - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Westwood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.

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 Westwood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Westwood.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.

  • Guilford College
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Guilford College is located in Guilford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guilford College
  • Pomona
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Pomona is located in Guilford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pomona
  • Greensboro
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Hillsdale
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Hillsdale is located in Guilford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
  • Friendship
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Friendship is located in Guilford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
  • Summerfield
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Vandalia
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Vandalia is located in Guilford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
  • Scalesville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Scalesville is located in Guilford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalesville
  • Oak Ridge
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Deep River
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Jamestown
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Browns Summit
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Colfax
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • McLeansville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Stokesdale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Westwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Westwood.

Newspapers Published in Westwood ...

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 Westwood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westwood, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westwood.

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 Westwood:

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 Westwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Westwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.