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 Willits - Ochre Hill (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 Willits - Ochre Hill. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Willits - Ochre Hill is located in Jackson 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 Jackson County: Haywood, Macon, Swain, Transylvania & Oconee (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Willits - Ochre Hill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Willits - Ochre Hill:
- Jackson County (The home county of Willits - Ochre Hill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willits - Ochre Hill, with the one closest to Willits - Ochre Hill listed first.
- Ruby City
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Ruby City is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby City
- Addie
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Addie is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
- Balsam
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sylva
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Cullowhee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Webster
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- East Laport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Forest Hills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- 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 <1>
- Dillsboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Tuckasegee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Greens Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- Paint Town
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Paint Town is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Town
- Argura
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Argura is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argura
- Buncombe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willits - Ochre Hill, with the one closest to Willits - Ochre Hill listed first.
- Glady
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Glady is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glady
- Sandymush
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sandymush is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandymush
- Sandymush has also been known as:
- Sandy Mush
- Candler
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Newfound
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Newfound is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newfound
- Enka Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Enka Village is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enka Village
- Enka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Acton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Acton is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
- Leicester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Avery Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Avery Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery Creek
- Bent Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Bent Creek is located in Buncombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Creek
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willits - Ochre Hill, with the one closest to Willits - Ochre Hill listed first.
- Maggie Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hazelwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hazelwood is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Waynesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lavinia ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lavinia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
- Lake Junaluska
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Bethel is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Sonoma ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Sonoma is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- Clyde
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cruso
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Cruso is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruso
- West Canton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- West Canton is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Canton
- Teague ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Teague is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
- Canton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Morning Star
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Morning Star is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morning Star
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willits - Ochre Hill, with the one closest to Willits - Ochre Hill listed first.
- Holly Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Holly Springs is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Etowah
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willits - Ochre Hill, with the one closest to Willits - Ochre Hill listed first.
- Ellijay
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Leatherman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Franklin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tellico
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Tellico is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tellico
- Lickskillet
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Riverside
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Otto
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Scaly Mountain
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Fairview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Fairview is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Orlando
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Orlando is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Madison County
- Trust
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Trust is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
- Swain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willits - Ochre Hill, with the one closest to Willits - Ochre Hill listed first.
- Cherokee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Unahala
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Unahala is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
- Bryson City
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Almond
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Forney ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Forney is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forney
- Judson ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Judson is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Bushnell ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bushnell is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushnell
- Wesser
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Wesser is located in Swain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesser
- Transylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willits - Ochre Hill, with the one closest to Willits - Ochre Hill listed first.
- Balsam Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Sapphire
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Lake Toxaway
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Brevard
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rosman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Pisgah Forest
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- East Fork
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- East Fork is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
- Seven Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Seven Springs is located in Transylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Springs
- Penrose
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Pickens County (SC)
- Rocky Bottom
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rocky Bottom is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Bottom
- Cocke County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willits - Ochre Hill, with the one closest to Willits - Ochre Hill listed first.
- Hartford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cosby
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Naillon ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Naillon is located in Cocke County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naillon
- Sevier County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willits - Ochre Hill, with the one closest to Willits - Ochre Hill listed first.
- Pittman Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pittman Center is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittman Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 545 people
- Elkmont ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elkmont is located in Sevier County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkmont
- Gatlinburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Willits - Ochre Hill, see our County-by-County Page for Willits - Ochre Hill.
Cemeteries Near Willits - Ochre Hill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Willits - Ochre Hill.
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 Willits - Ochre Hill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Willits - Ochre Hill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Willits - Ochre Hill, with the one closest to Willits - Ochre Hill listed first.
- Sutton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Love Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Henry Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Henry Cogdill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Norman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Norman - Blanton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Hoyle Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jones Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Crawford Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Clayton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Balsam Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Barnes Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (336 more) ...
- Addie Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Dills Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ash Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<3>
While we didn't find Willits - Ochre Hill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Willits - Ochre Hill.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Willits - Ochre Hill, with the one closest to Willits - Ochre Hill listed first.
- Addie
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Addie is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addie
- Balsam
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Beta
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Beta is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beta
- Sylva
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Webster
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Webster is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Cullowhee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dillsboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- East Laport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Cowarts
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Cowarts is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowarts
- Rich Mountain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rich Mountain is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Mountain
- Tuckasegee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Waynesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Fallcliff
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Fallcliff is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallcliff
- Wilmot
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Wilmot is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Lavinia ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lavinia is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavinia
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Willits - Ochre Hill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Willits - Ochre Hill.
Newspapers Published in Willits - Ochre Hill ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Willits - Ochre Hill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Willits - Ochre Hill, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Willits - Ochre Hill.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Willits - Ochre Hill:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Jackson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buncombe County
- Haywood County
- Henderson County
- Macon County
- Madison County
- Swain County
- Transylvania County
- Pickens County
- Cocke County
- Sevier 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 Willits - Ochre Hill, 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- Willits - Ochre Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |