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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 Spray (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 Spray. 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.

Spray is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Suwannee, Taylor, Brooks (GA) & Lowndes (GA).

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

  • Madison County     (The home county of Spray)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spray, with the one closest to Spray listed first.
    • Greenville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Hamburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hamburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
      • Hamburg is located in Madison County
    • Madison
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Cherry Lake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Lake
      • Cherry Lake is located in Madison County
    • Pinetta
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Leland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
      • Leland is located in Madison County
    • Lee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee
      • Lee is located in Madison County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lee <1>
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spray, with the one closest to Spray listed first.
    • Aucilla
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucilla
      • Aucilla is located in Jefferson County
    • Lamont
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Monticello
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Waukeenah
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Thomas City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Thomas City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas City
      • Thomas City is located in Jefferson County
    • Wacissa
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Lloyd
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
  • Lafayette County
    • Day
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Leon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spray, with the one closest to Spray listed first.
    • Miccosukee
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Capitola
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitola
      • Capitola is located in Leon County
  • Suwannee County
    • Dowling Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowling Park
      • Dowling Park is located in Suwannee County
  • Taylor County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spray, with the one closest to Spray listed first.
    • Shady Grove
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Perry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Brooks County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spray, with the one closest to Spray listed first.
    • Empress
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empress
      • Empress is located in Brooks County (GA)
    • McIntyre Spring ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for McIntyre Spring have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntyre Spring
      • McIntyre Spring is located in Brooks County (GA)
      • Estimated population in 2019: 605 people
    • Dixie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Quitman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quitman
      • Quitman is located in Brooks County (GA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,625 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Quitman <1>
    • Fodie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fodie
      • Fodie is located in Brooks County (GA)
      • Estimated population in 2019: 5,037 people
    • Barwick
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Morven
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Morven have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morven
      • Morven is located in Brooks County (GA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 544 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Morven <1>
  • Lowndes County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spray, with the one closest to Spray listed first.
    • Clyattville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Dasher
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dasher have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dasher
      • Dasher is located in Lowndes County (GA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,025 people
    • Lake Park
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Remerton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Remerton have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Remerton
      • Remerton is located in Lowndes County (GA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,061 people
    • Valdosta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valdosta
      • Valdosta is located in Lowndes County (GA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56,668 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Valdosta <1>
    • Melrose
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
      • Melrose is located in Lowndes County (GA)
  • Thomas County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spray, with the one closest to Spray listed first.
    • Boston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston
      • Boston is located in Thomas County (GA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,313 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boston <1>
    • Newark
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Newark have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
      • Newark is located in Thomas County (GA)
      • Estimated population in 2019: 783 people
    • Thomasville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Spray ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Spray.

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 Spray covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Redding Hammock Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Redding Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Redding Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Redding Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Redding Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Redding Family Cemetery
  • Smith Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Smith Cemetery
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Smith Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
  • Reaper Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • New Hopewell Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the New Hopewell Cemetery
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the New Hopewell Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
  • Harby Family Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Harby Family Cemetery
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Harby Family Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Hensey Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Barclay Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Barclay Cemetery
    • The Barclay Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Barclay Family Cemetery
  • Ebenezer UMC Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Emery Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Aucilla Fire Tower Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Aucilla Fire Tower Cemetery
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Aucilla Fire Tower Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
  • Continue List   (194 more) ...
    • Hurst Family Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hurst Family Cemetery
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Hurst Family Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Porter Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Porter Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Porter Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Elizabeth Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)

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

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

  • Greenville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Hamburg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hamburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
    • Hamburg is located in Madison County
  • Aucilla
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucilla
    • Aucilla is located in Jefferson County
  • Madison
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Cherry Lake
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Lake
    • Cherry Lake is located in Madison County
  • Nankin
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nankin have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nankin
    • Nankin is located in Brooks County (GA)
  • Lamont
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Aucilla ‑ Historic
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Aucilla have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucilla
    • Aucilla is located in Thomas County (GA)
  • Monticello
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Iddo
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Iddo have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iddo
    • Iddo is located in Taylor County
  • Leland
    (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
    • Leland is located in Madison County
  • Dixie
    (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Quitman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quitman
      • Quitman is located in Brooks County (GA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,625 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Quitman <1>
    • Lee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee
      • Lee is located in Madison County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lee <1>
    • Waukeenah
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Spray ...

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 46 newspapers that have been published in the area around Spray.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Spray, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Spray.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Spray:

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

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>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.
<3>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.
<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 Spray, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Spray) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Spray. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 30.5141, Longitude: -83.6204       In this case, the coordinates for Spray have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Mar 2025