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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 Sills (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 Sills. 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.

Sills is located in Jackson 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 Jackson County: Geneva (AL), Houston (AL), Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Holmes, Liberty, Washington & Seminole (GA).

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

  • Jackson County     (The home county of Sills)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sills, with the one closest to Sills listed first.
    • Malone
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Campbellton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Greenwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Jacob City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Jacob City is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacob City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Bascom
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Cottondale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Marianna
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Two Egg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Two Egg is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Two Egg
    • Graceville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Steele City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Steele City is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steele City
    • Parramore ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Parramore is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parramore
    • Alford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Cypress
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sills, with the one closest to Sills listed first.
    • Altha
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Ocheesee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Ocheesee is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheesee
  • Holmes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sills, with the one closest to Sills listed first.
    • Noma
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Esto
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Esto is located in Holmes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esto
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
    • Bonifay
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sills, with the one closest to Sills listed first.
    • Chipley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Brock Crossroad
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Brock Crossroad is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brock Crossroad
    • Wausau
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Dale County (AL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sills, with the one closest to Sills listed first.
    • Grimes
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Grimes is located in Dale County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grimes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 556 people
    • Napier Field
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Napier Field is located in Dale County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier Field
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
    • Midland City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Pinckard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Geneva County (AL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sills, with the one closest to Sills listed first.
    • Malvern
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Malvern is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malvern
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,462 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Malvern <1>
    • Slocomb
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Slocomb is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocomb
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,929 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Slocomb <1>
    • Dundee
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Dundee is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
    • Hartford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Black
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Black is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 203 people
  • Henry County (AL)
    • Headland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Houston County (AL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sills, with the one closest to Sills listed first.
    • Cottonwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Madrid
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Madrid is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madrid
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 293 people
    • Hodgesville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hodgesville is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodgesville
    • Keyton's
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Keyton's is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyton's
    • Merritts Crossroads
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Merritts Crossroads is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merritts Crossroads
    • Rehobeth
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Rehobeth is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehobeth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,699 people
    • Ashford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Ashford is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,202 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ashford <1>
    • Avon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Avon is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
    • Cowarts
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Cowarts is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowarts
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,097 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cowarts <1>
    • Gordon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Gordon is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 328 people
    • Parish
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Parker Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Parker Village is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Village
    • Taylor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Taylor is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,440 people
  • Early County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sills, with the one closest to Sills listed first.
    • Jakin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Jakin is located in Early County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jakin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jakin <1>
    • Cedar Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Springfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Springfield is located in Early County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
      • Estimated population in 2019: 4,084 people
    • Sawhatchee
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Sawhatchee is located in Early County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawhatchee
    • Rock Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Rock Hill is located in Early County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Hill
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 248 people
  • Miller County (GA)
    • Mayhaw
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Mayhaw is located in Miller County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayhaw
  • Seminole County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sills, with the one closest to Sills listed first.
    • Steam Mill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Steam Mill is located in Seminole County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steam Mill
    • Butlers Ferry
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Butlers Ferry is located in Seminole County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butlers Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,759 people
    • Donalsonville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Iron City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Reynoldsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Reynoldsville is located in Seminole County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsville
      • Estimated population in 2019: 960 people

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

Cemeteries Near Sills ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sills.

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

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

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

  • Hays Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Friendship Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • McNeally Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Buckhorn Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Clayton Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Registers Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Coonrod Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Pinecrest Memorial Gardens
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Nubbin Ridge Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Friendship Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Phillips Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (180 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 Sills in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sills.

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

  • Campbellton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Greenwood
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Bascom
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Cottondale
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Marianna
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Keyton's
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Keyton's is located in Houston County (AL)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyton's
  • Big Creek
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Big Creek is located in Houston County (AL)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
  • Graceville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Ashford
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Ashford is located in Houston County (AL)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,202 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ashford <1>
  • Fadette
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Fadette is located in Geneva County (AL)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fadette
  • Chipley
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
  • Cypress
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Jakin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Jakin is located in Early County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jakin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jakin <1>
    • Barber
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Barber is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barber
    • Tidwell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Tidwell is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tidwell

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

Newspapers Published in Sills ...

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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sills.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sills, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sills.

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 Sills:

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