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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 Paradise (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 Paradise. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

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 south 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.

Paradise is located in Alachua 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 Alachua County: Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion, Putnam & Union.

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

  • Alachua County     (The home county of Paradise)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paradise, with the one closest to Paradise listed first.
    • Gainesville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Rutledge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Rutledge is located in Alachua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutledge
    • Hague
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Hague is located in Alachua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hague
    • Arredondo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Arredondo is located in Alachua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arredondo
    • Burnetts Lake
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Burnetts Lake is located in Alachua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnetts Lake
    • Windsor
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Windsor is located in Alachua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
    • La Crosse
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Alachua
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Rochelle
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Rochelle is located in Alachua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochelle
    • Jonesville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Waldo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Campville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Campville is located in Alachua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campville
  • Bradford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paradise, with the one closest to Paradise listed first.
    • Brooker
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Graham
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Hampton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Starke
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lawtey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paradise, with the one closest to Paradise listed first.
    • Keystone Heights
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Lake Geneva
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Kingsley Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Kingsley Lake is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsley Lake
    • Kingsley Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Kingsley Village is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsley Village
    • Kingsley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Kingsley is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsley
  • Columbia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paradise, with the one closest to Paradise listed first.
    • Fort White
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Lulu
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Gilchrist County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paradise, with the one closest to Paradise listed first.
    • Waters Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Waters Lake is located in Gilchrist County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waters Lake
    • Trenton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Levy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paradise, with the one closest to Paradise listed first.
    • Raleigh
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Raleigh is located in Levy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh
    • Meredith
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Meredith is located in Levy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meredith
    • East Williston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • East Williston is located in Levy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Williston
    • Williston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • East Bronson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • East Bronson is located in Levy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bronson
    • Bronson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Williston Highlands
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Williston Highlands is located in Levy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston Highlands
    • Morriston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paradise, with the one closest to Paradise listed first.
    • McIntosh
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Orange Lake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Irvine
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Irvine is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvine
    • Paynes Town ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Paynes Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynes Town
    • Heijahs Town ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Heijahs Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heijahs Town
    • Fairfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Fairfield is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
    • Reddick
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Citra
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Lowell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Orange Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Sparr
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Martin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Martin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
  • Putnam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paradise, with the one closest to Paradise listed first.
    • Putnam Hall
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Edgar
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Grandin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Keuka
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Keuka is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keuka
    • Florahome
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Interlachen
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Mannville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Mannville is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannville
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Paradise, with the one closest to Paradise listed first.
    • Worthington Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Lake Butler
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Raiford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Paradise ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Paradise.

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

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

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

  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Forest Meadows Memorial Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Morning Star Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Pine Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Patrick Memorial Gardens
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patrick Memorial Gardens
    • The Patrick Memorial Gardens has also been known as:
    • Patrick Cemetery
  • Fairbanks Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Forest Meadows Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Alachua Hillcrest Memorial Park
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Hague Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Kanapaha Presbyterian Church Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (157 more) ...
    • Rhuda Branch Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • West Hills Memorial Gardens
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Freedom Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Paradise had a population of 102 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Gainesville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Rutledge
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Rutledge is located in Alachua County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutledge
  • Fairbanks
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Fairbanks is located in Alachua County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbanks
  • Hague
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hague is located in Alachua County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hague
  • Arredondo
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Arredondo is located in Alachua County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arredondo
  • La Crosse
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Rochelle
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Rochelle is located in Alachua County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochelle
  • Windsor
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Windsor is located in Alachua County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
  • Newnansville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Newnansville is located in Alachua County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newnansville
  • Alachua
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Jonesville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Orange Heights
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Orange Heights is located in Alachua County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange Heights
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Waldo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Grove Park
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Grove Park is located in Alachua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Park
    • Campville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Campville is located in Alachua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campville

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

Newspapers Published in Paradise ...

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 93 newspapers that have been published in the area around Paradise.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Paradise, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Paradise.

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 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 Paradise:

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 Paradise, 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- Paradise) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.