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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 Mason (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 Mason. 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 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.

Mason is located in Columbia County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Columbia County: Alachua, Baker, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Suwannee, Union, Clinch (GA) & Echols (GA).

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

  • Columbia County     (The home county of Mason)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mason, with the one closest to Mason listed first.
    • Lulu
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • McColskey
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for McColskey have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McColskey
      • McColskey is located in Columbia County
    • Watertown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
      • Watertown is located in Columbia County
    • Fort White
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Five Points
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
      • Five Points is located in Columbia County
  • Alachua County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mason, with the one closest to Mason listed first.
    • High Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • La Crosse
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Alachua
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Burnetts Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Burnetts Lake. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnetts Lake
      • Burnetts Lake is located in Alachua County
    • Hague
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hague
      • Hague is located in Alachua County
    • Jonesville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Newberry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Rutledge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutledge
      • Rutledge is located in Alachua County
    • Waldo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Baker County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mason, with the one closest to Mason listed first.
    • Olustee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Sanderson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Glen Saint Mary
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Bradford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mason, with the one closest to Mason listed first.
    • Brooker
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Graham
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Starke
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Hampton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Gilchrist County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mason, with the one closest to Mason listed first.
    • Little Lake City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Little Lake City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Lake City
      • Little Lake City is located in Gilchrist County
    • Waters Lake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waters Lake
      • Waters Lake is located in Gilchrist County
    • Bell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
      • Bell is located in Gilchrist County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bell <1>
  • Hamilton County
    • White Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Suwannee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mason, with the one closest to Mason listed first.
    • Wellborn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Branford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • O'Brien
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • McAlpin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Padlock
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Padlock. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Padlock
      • Padlock is located in Suwannee County
    • Live Oak
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Rixford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Rixford. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rixford
      • Rixford is located in Suwannee County
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mason, with the one closest to Mason listed first.
    • Worthington Springs
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake Butler
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Raiford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Mason ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mason.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mt. Tabor AME Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Tabor AME Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Tabor AME Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mt. Tabor Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Mt. Tabor Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Tabor Cemetery
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Mt. Tabor Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
  • Mt. Tabor Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Hawthorne Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hawthorne Cemetery
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Hawthorne Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
  • Farnell Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Providence Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • St. John Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. John Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. John Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Ebenezer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Hopeful Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hopeful Church Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hopeful Church Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pleasant Grove Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (142 more) ...
    • Philippi Baptist Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • New Zion Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the New Zion Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the New Zion Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Kerce Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)

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.<4>

While we didn't find Mason in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Mason.

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

  • Mikesville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mikesville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mikesville
    • Mikesville is located in Columbia County
  • Columbia
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Columbia have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
    • Columbia is located in Columbia County
  • Lulu
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Fort White
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Lake City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Watertown
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
    • Watertown is located in Columbia County
  • Mount Carrie
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mount Carrie have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carrie
    • Mount Carrie is located in Columbia County
  • High Springs
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • Lake Butler
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Olustee
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Winfield
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Winfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfield
    • Winfield is located in Columbia County
  • Newnansville
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Newnansville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newnansville
    • Newnansville is located in Alachua County
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • La Crosse
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Alachua
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Wellborn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Mason ...

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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mason.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mason, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mason.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Mason:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Mason. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Columbia County: www.columbiacountyfla.com/

The official website for State of Florida: https://www.myflorida.com/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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 Mason, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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- Mason) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Mason. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 30.0400, Longitude: -82.5979       In this case, the coordinates for Mason have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Mar 2025