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 Willen Gap (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 Willen Gap. 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 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.
Willen Gap is located in Johnson County.
To see how the shape of Tennessee's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Johnson County: Ashe (NC), Avery (NC), Watauga (NC), Carter, Sullivan, Grayson (VA) & Washington (VA).
Below are the counties that are near Willen Gap. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Willen Gap:
- Johnson County (The home county of Willen Gap)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willen Gap, with the one closest to Willen Gap listed first.
- Dowell ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Dowell is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowell
- Estimated population in 2014: 364 people
- Mountain City
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Fuller
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fuller is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Shingletown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shingletown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shingletown
- Trade
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
- Winchester
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Winchester is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Estimated population in 2014: 8,547 people
- High Health ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- High Health is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Health
- Norris
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Norris is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,652 people
- Butler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Carter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willen Gap, with the one closest to Willen Gap listed first.
- Buladeen
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Buladeen is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladeen
- Former names for Buladeen:
- Colesville
- Magnetic
- Fish Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fish Springs is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Springs
- Shell Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Shell Creek is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shell Creek
- Estimated population in 2014: 21,037 people
- Hunter
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Hunter is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Siam
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Siam is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siam
- Roan Mountain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hampton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Heaton Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Heaton Creek is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heaton Creek
- Biltmore
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Biltmore is located in Carter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biltmore
- Elizabethton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sullivan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willen Gap, with the one closest to Willen Gap listed first.
- Fishdam ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Fishdam is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishdam
- Holston Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Holston Valley is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holston Valley
- Ruthton
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Ruthton is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruthton
- Forest Hills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Forest Hills is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Hunter Hills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hunter Hills is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Hills
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,854 people
- Cedar Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Cedar Grove is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Bristol
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Collingwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Alleghany County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willen Gap, with the one closest to Willen Gap listed first.
- Topia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Topia is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topia
- Scottville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Piney Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Laurel Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Amelia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Amelia is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelia
- Ashe County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willen Gap, with the one closest to Willen Gap listed first.
- Ashland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ashland is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Roten
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Roten is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roten
- Grayson
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Grayson is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Creston
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Apple Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Apple Grove is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
- Comet
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Comet is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet
- Warrensville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lansing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Brandon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brandon is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
- West Jefferson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Sturgills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sturgills is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgills
- Todd
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Avery County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willen Gap, with the one closest to Willen Gap listed first.
- Mount Gilead
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Gilead is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gilead
- Beech Mountain
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Whaley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Whaley is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
- Seven Devils
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Banner Elk
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sugar Mountain
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Sugar Mountain is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Grandfather
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Grandfather is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandfather
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
- Elk Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Vale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Vale is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vale
- Linville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Montezuma
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Montezuma is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
- Minneapolis
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Minneapolis is located in Avery County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minneapolis
- Newland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Caldwell County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willen Gap, with the one closest to Willen Gap listed first.
- Blowing Rock
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Mulberry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Mulberry is located in Caldwell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Watauga County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willen Gap, with the one closest to Willen Gap listed first.
- Zionville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Mabel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mabel is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
- Norris ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Norris is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Moretz
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Moretz is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moretz
- Sands
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Sands is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sands
- Sugar Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Vilas
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Boone
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Boone is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,003 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boone <1>
- Rutherwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Rutherwood is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherwood
- Watauga Falls ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Watauga Falls is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watauga Falls
- Deep Gap
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Laxon
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Laxon is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laxon
- Rominger
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Rominger is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rominger
- Wilkes County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willen Gap, with the one closest to Willen Gap listed first.
- Maple Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Maple Springs is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Springs
- Wilbar
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wilbar is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbar
- McGrady
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- McGrady is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGrady
- Hendrix ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hendrix is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
- Springfield ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Springfield is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Mount Pleasant
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Purlear
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Purlear is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purlear
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Willen Gap, see our County-by-County Page for Willen Gap.
Cemeteries Near Willen Gap ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Willen Gap.
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 Willen Gap - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Willen Gap covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Willen Gap, with the one closest to Willen Gap listed first.
- Brown Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Lewis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Osborne Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Payne Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Forrester Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Roark Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Osborne Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Eastridge Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Owens Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Ham Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Payne Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hammon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Continue List (529 more) ...
- Dunn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- McEwen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Smith Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 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 Willen Gap in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Willen Gap.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Willen Gap, with the one closest to Willen Gap listed first.
- Osborn
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Osborn is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
- Roten
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Roten is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roten
- Sutherland
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Sutherland is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutherland
- Creston
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Fig
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Fig is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fig
- Grayson
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Grayson is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Mountain City
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Silver Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Silver Lake is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Laurel Bloomery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Clifton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Clifton is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Apple Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Apple Grove is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
- Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Trade
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dresden
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Dresden is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresden
- Comet
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Comet is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Willen Gap. See our List of 1890's Communities around Willen Gap.
Newspapers Published in Willen Gap ...
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 19 newspapers that have been published in the area around Willen Gap.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Willen Gap, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Willen Gap.
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 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 Willen Gap:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Johnson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carter County
- Sullivan County
- Alleghany County
- Ashe County
- Avery County
- Caldwell County
- Watauga County
- Wilkes County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Tennessee
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 Willen Gap, 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- Willen Gap) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |