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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 South Bay Lakes (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 South Bay Lakes. 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.

Name Variations for South Bay Lakes ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

For example, a typical abbreviation for South Bay Lakes: South Bay Lks.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 doctors and 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.

South Bay Lakes is located in Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County: Hardee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas & Polk.

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

  • Hillsborough County     (The home county of South Bay Lakes)
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Bay Lakes, with the one closest to South Bay Lakes listed first.
    • East Bay Lakes
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • East Bay Lakes is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bay Lakes
    • Gibsonton
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Adamsville
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Adamsville is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsville
    • Garden City
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Garden City is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
    • Stelling Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Stelling Village is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stelling Village
    • Riverview
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Edgewater Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Edgewater Village is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewater Village
    • Summerfield Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Summerfield Village is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield Village
    • Apollo Beach
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Apollo Key Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Apollo Key Village is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apollo Key Village
    • Marina Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Marina Village is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marina Village
    • McQueens Village ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • McQueens Village is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McQueens Village
    • Countryside Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Countryside Village is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside Village
  • Manatee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Bay Lakes, with the one closest to South Bay Lakes listed first.
    • Parrish
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Terra Ceia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Duette
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Ellenton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Memphis
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Memphis is located in Manatee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memphis
    • Palmetto
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Bradenton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Waterbury
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Waterbury is located in Manatee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterbury
    • Palma Sola
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Samoset
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Samoset is located in Manatee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samoset
    • West Bradenton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • West Bradenton is located in Manatee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bradenton
    • Oneco
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • West Samoset
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • West Samoset is located in Manatee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Samoset
  • Pasco County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Bay Lakes, with the one closest to South Bay Lakes listed first.
    • Land O' Lakes
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Crystal Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Crystal Springs is located in Pasco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Springs
    • Odessa
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Wesley Chapel South
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Wesley Chapel South is located in Pasco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley Chapel South
    • Wesley Chapel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Zephyrhills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Pinellas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Bay Lakes, with the one closest to South Bay Lakes listed first.
    • Gandy
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Gandy is located in Pinellas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gandy
    • Saint Petersburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Lealman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Lealman is located in Pinellas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lealman
    • Feather Sound
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Pinellas Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Gulfport
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • High Point
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • High Point is located in Pinellas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Point
    • Kenneth City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • South Highpoint
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • South Highpoint is located in Pinellas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Highpoint
    • Bayview ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bayview is located in Pinellas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayview
    • Safety Harbor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Four Corners
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Four Corners is located in Pinellas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Corners
    • Oldsmar
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Bay Lakes, with the one closest to South Bay Lakes listed first.
    • Nichols
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Willow Oak
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Willow Oak is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Oak
    • Bradley Junction
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Bradley Junction is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley Junction
    • Brewster ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Brewster is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewster
    • Mulberry
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Medulla
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Medulla is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medulla
    • Winston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Winston is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winston
    • Lakeland Highlands
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Lakeland Highlands is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeland Highlands
    • Kathleen
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lakeland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Acton ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Acton is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton

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

Cemeteries Near South Bay Lakes ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Bay Lakes.

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 South Bay Lakes - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Samford Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Hackney - Riverview Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackney - Riverview Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Hackney - Riverview Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Tampa.
    • The Hackney - Riverview Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Hackney Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #72067 <2>
  • Serenity Meadows Memorial Park
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Commemorative Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Brandon Family Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Hillsboro Memorial Gardens
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Limona Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limona Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Limona Cemetery is located in Brandon.
  • Centro Espanol Memorial Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centro Espanol Memorial Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Centro Espanol Memorial Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Tampa.
    • The Centro Espanol Memorial Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Centro Espanol Cemetery
    • Memorial Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #71837 <2>
  • Garden of Memories
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden of Memories
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Garden of Memories is a very large cemetery that is located in Tampa.
    • The Garden of Memories has also been known as:
    • Garden of Memories Cemetery
    • Tampa Garden of Memories Cemetery
    • Tampa Garden of Memories
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #72022 <2>
  • Ruskin Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Ruskin Memorial Gardens
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Centro Espanol Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centro Espanol Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Centro Espanol Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Tampa.
    • The Centro Espanol Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Cemeterio Espanol
    • Centro Espanol Memorial Park Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2355874 <2>
  • Continue List   (91 more) ...
    • La Unione Italiana Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Unione Italiana Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the La Unione Italiana Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Tampa.
      • The La Unione Italiana Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Italian Clud Cemetery
      • L'Unione Italiana Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1979335 <2>
    • Oaklawn Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Myrtle Hill Memorial Park
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Hill Memorial Park
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Myrtle Hill Memorial Park is a very large cemetery that is located in Tampa.
      • The Myrtle Hill Memorial Park has also been known as:
      • Myrtle Hill Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #72326 <2>

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

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

  • Peru ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Peru is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peru
  • Gulf City
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Gulf City is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf City
  • Bloomingdale
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bloomingdale is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomingdale
  • Brandon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Limona
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Limona is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limona
  • Port Tampa
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Port Tampa is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Tampa
  • Ybor City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Ybor City is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ybor City
  • Tampa
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Tampa is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tampa
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 407,599 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tampa <1>
  • Valrico
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Mango
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Seffner
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Sydney
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Thonotosassa
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Keysville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Keysville is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keysville
    • Erie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Erie is located in Manatee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie

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

Newspapers Published in South Bay Lakes ...

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 2 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Bay Lakes.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Bay Lakes, there are papers which were published within 5 miles [8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for South Bay Lakes.

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 South Bay Lakes:

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