To find some records for Rowan Co., NC, an old county in North CArolina, here are some of my suggestions: Are you near an LDS family history center? Check this website to find out. <A HREF="www.familysearch.org">www.familysearch.org</A> The link to a list of over 3,500 centers around the world are found on the lower right. Just above that link is another link to the LDS Family History Library catalog. On that catalog you will find lots of listings for microfilm, books (which you cannot borrow unless they have been filmed), and microfiche. You can borrow for a small fee for a short time a good many films for Rowan Co., NC (and a lot of other US, not to mention English, Welsh, Scottish, German, and so on records). If you can persuade your local public librarian that interlibrary loan is a good thing, then take the names of the books for Rowan Co. and ask him/her whether he/she will initiate an interlibrary loan for you. Genealogy is a lot of HARD work--and time-consuming. Internet is great for establishing relationships and learning new avenues, but it will not give you a great deal of PROVEN information on your ancestors. Much of it is pure gibberish!!! On the website give above, you will find also the 1880 US census ( a little tricky to use), some guides to research in North Carolina (and elsewhere), some downloadable forms, etc. Explore away! E.W.Wallace