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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 Winter Park (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 Winter Park. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Winter Park is located in New Hanover 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 New Hanover County: Brunswick & Pender.

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

  • New Hanover County     (The home county of Winter Park)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Winter Park, with the one closest to Winter Park listed first.
    • Wilmington
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Seagate
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Seagate is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seagate
    • Kings Grant
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Kings Grant is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Grant
    • Smith Creek
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Smith Creek is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Creek
    • Windemere
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Windemere is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windemere
    • Masonboro
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Masonboro is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masonboro
    • Hightsville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hightsville is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightsville
    • Silver Lake
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Silver Lake is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
    • Wrightsville Beach
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Wrightsboro
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Wrightsboro is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsboro
    • Ogden
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Myrtle Grove
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Myrtle Grove is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Grove
    • Murraysville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Murraysville is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murraysville
  • Bladen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Winter Park, with the one closest to Winter Park listed first.
    • Long View
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Long View is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long View
    • East Arcadia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • East Arcadia is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Arcadia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 470 people
    • Kelly
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Kelly is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
  • Brunswick County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Winter Park, with the one closest to Winter Park listed first.
    • Belville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Belville is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,135 people
    • Old Town
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Old Town is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Leland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Leland is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,647 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leland <1>
    • Navassa
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Navassa is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navassa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,534 people
    • Phoenix
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Phoenix is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoenix
    • Malmo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Malmo is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malmo
    • Town Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Town Creek is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Town Creek
    • Winnabow
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Boiling Spring Lakes
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Boiling Spring Lakes is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boiling Spring Lakes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,430 people
    • Sandy Creek
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Sandy Creek is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 319 people
    • Northwest
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Northwest is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 806 people
    • Bolivia
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Southport
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
  • Columbus County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Winter Park, with the one closest to Winter Park listed first.
    • Acme
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Acme is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
    • Delco
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Riegelwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Armour
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Armour is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armour
    • Byrdville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Byrdville is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrdville
    • Sandyfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Sandyfield is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
    • Bolton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Onslow County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Winter Park, with the one closest to Winter Park listed first.
    • Surf City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Holly Ridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Ocean City Beach
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Ocean City Beach is located in Onslow County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean City Beach
  • Pender County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Winter Park, with the one closest to Winter Park listed first.
    • Brown Town
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Brown Town is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown Town
    • Hampstead
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Rocky Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Topsail
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Topsail is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topsail
    • Kings Landing
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Kings Landing is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Landing
    • Ashton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Ashton is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
    • Topsail Beach
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Helena
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Saint Helena is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Helena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
    • Currie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Burgaw
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Murray Town
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Murray Town is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray Town
    • Atkinson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Watha
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Watha is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people

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

Cemeteries Near Winter Park ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Winter Park.

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 Winter Park - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Winter Park, with the one closest to Winter Park 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 Winter Park in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Winter Park.

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

  • Wilmington
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Wrightsville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Wrightsville is located in New Hanover County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsville
  • Wrightsboro
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Wrightsboro is located in New Hanover County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsboro
  • Kirkland
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Kirkland is located in New Hanover County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkland
  • Navassa
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Navassa is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navassa
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,534 people
  • Scotts Hill
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Scotts Hill is located in Pender County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts Hill
  • Castle Hayne
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Phoenix
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Phoenix is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoenix
  • Town Creek
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Town Creek is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Town Creek
  • Winnabow
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Malmo
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Malmo is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malmo
  • Hampstead
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Rocky Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Long Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Long Creek is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
    • Northwest
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Northwest is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 806 people

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

Newspapers Published in Winter Park ...

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 96 newspapers that have been published in the area around Winter Park.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Winter Park, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Winter Park.

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 Winter Park:

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 Winter Park, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Winter Park) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.