RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Florida >> Polk County >> Gibsonia >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Gibsonia (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 Gibsonia. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.

Gibsonia is located in Polk County.

To see how the shape of Florida's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Polk County: Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco & Sumter.

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

  • Polk County     (The home county of Gibsonia)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gibsonia, with the one closest to Gibsonia listed first.
    • Fox Town
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Fox Town is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Town
    • Kathleen
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Lakeland
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Acton ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Acton is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
    • Combee Settlement
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Combee Settlement is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Combee Settlement
    • Crystal Lake
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Crystal Lake is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lake
    • Winston
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Winston is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winston
    • Eaton Park
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Fussels Corner
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Fussels Corner is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fussels Corner
    • Kossuthville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Kossuthville is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kossuthville
    • Polk City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Lakeland Highlands
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Lakeland Highlands is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeland Highlands
    • Medulla
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Medulla is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medulla
  • Hernando County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gibsonia, with the one closest to Gibsonia listed first.
    • Richloam ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Richloam is located in Hernando County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richloam
    • Ridge Manor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Hillsborough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gibsonia, with the one closest to Gibsonia listed first.
    • Colonial Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Colonial Village is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • Kings Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Kings Village is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Village
    • Knights
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Knights is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knights
    • Plant City Heights
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Plant City Heights is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plant City Heights
    • Plant City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Cedar Run
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cedar Run is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Run
    • South Plant City Farms
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • South Plant City Farms is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Plant City Farms
    • Strawberry Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Strawberry Village is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strawberry Village
    • Woodfield Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodfield Village is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodfield Village
    • West Plant City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • West Plant City is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Plant City
    • Parrish
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Parrish is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
    • Kingston City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Kingston City is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston City
    • West Plant City Farms
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • West Plant City Farms is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Plant City Farms
  • Lake County
    • Four Corners
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Orange County
    • Bay Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Bay Lake is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
  • Osceola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gibsonia, with the one closest to Gibsonia listed first.
    • ChampionsGate
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • ChampionsGate is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for ChampionsGate
    • Reunion
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Poinciana Place
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Poinciana Place is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poinciana Place
    • Intercession City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Poinciana
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Celebration
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Pasco County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gibsonia, with the one closest to Gibsonia listed first.
    • Crystal Springs
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Crystal Springs is located in Pasco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Springs
    • Richland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Richland is located in Pasco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
    • Zephyrhills
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Dade City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Leo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • San Antonio
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • San Antonio is located in Pasco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Antonio
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,506 people
      • Former name for San Antonio:
      • Lake Jovita
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for San Antonio <1>
    • Wesley Chapel South
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Wesley Chapel South is located in Pasco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley Chapel South
    • Wesley Chapel
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Blanton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Blanton is located in Pasco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanton
    • Moss Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Moss Town is located in Pasco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Town
    • Lacoochee
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Trilby
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Land O' Lakes
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Sumter County
    • Tarrytown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Tarrytown is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarrytown

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

Cemeteries Near Gibsonia ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gibsonia.

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

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

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

  • Carpenters Home Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Griffin Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin Cemetery
    • The Griffin Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Galloway Cemetery
    • Sleepy Hill Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #72061 <2>
  • Serenity Gardens
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Lakeview Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Roselawn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Tiger Flowers Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Socrum Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Socrum Cemetery
    • The Socrum Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Bethel Baptist Cemetery
    • Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #521310 <2>
  • New Home Baptist Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Stephenson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Gapway Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Lakeland Memorial Gardens
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Glen Abbey Memorial Gardens
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (114 more) ...

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

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

  • Kathleen
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Lakeland
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Knights
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Knights is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knights
  • Keene
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Keene is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keene
  • Plant City
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Auburndale
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Green Pond
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Green Pond is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
  • Gordonville
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Gordonville is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonville
  • Richland
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Richland is located in Pasco County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
  • Eagle Lake
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Winter Haven
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Sydney
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Bartow
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Ellerslie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Ellerslie is located in Pasco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerslie
    • Keysville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Keysville is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keysville

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

Newspapers Published in Gibsonia ...

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 39 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gibsonia.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gibsonia, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gibsonia.

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 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 Gibsonia:

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 Gibsonia, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Gibsonia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.