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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Bales. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Bales to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Bales, please Contact Us.

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 Bales (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 Bales. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Bales is historic, it would have been located within present day Laurens County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Laurens County: Bleckley, Dodge, Johnson, Treutlen, Twiggs, Wheeler & Wilkinson.

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

  • Laurens County     (The home county of Bales)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bales, with the one closest to Bales listed first.
    • Lovett
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Lovett is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovett
    • Midway
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Midway is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,061 people
    • East Dublin
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Rockledge
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Dublin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Tuckers Crossroad
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Tuckers Crossroad is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckers Crossroad
    • Rentz
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Dudley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Dexter
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Cedar Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
    • Cadwell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Montrose
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
  • Bleckley County
    • Allentown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Dodge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bales, with the one closest to Bales listed first.
    • Bryant
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Bryant is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
    • Chester
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Plainfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Emanuel County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bales, with the one closest to Bales listed first.
    • Norristown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Nunez
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Swainsboro
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Blundale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Blundale is located in Emanuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blundale
    • Blun
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Blun is located in Emanuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blun
    • Summertown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Oak Park
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Colemans Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Colemans Lake is located in Emanuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colemans Lake
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bales, with the one closest to Bales listed first.
    • Bartow
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Wadley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Wadley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,834 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wadley <2>
    • Moxley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Moxley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moxley
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bales, with the one closest to Bales listed first.
    • Adrian
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Wrightsville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Kite
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Kite is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kite <2>
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bales, with the one closest to Bales listed first.
    • Tarrytown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Ailey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Ailey is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ailey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 528 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ailey <2>
    • Mount Vernon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Higgston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Higgston is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higgston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
  • Toombs County
    • Charles
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Charles is located in Toombs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charles
  • Treutlen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bales, with the one closest to Bales listed first.
    • Gillis Springs
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Gillis Springs is located in Treutlen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillis Springs
    • Soperton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Twiggs County
    • Danville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bales, with the one closest to Bales listed first.
    • Harrison
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Riddleville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Riddleville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riddleville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
    • Gardner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Gardner is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardner
      • Estimated population in 2019: 201 people
    • Oconee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Tennille
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Davisboro
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Sandersville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Wheeler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bales, with the one closest to Bales listed first.
    • Glenwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Ochwalkee
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Ochwalkee is located in Wheeler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ochwalkee
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,732 people
    • Alamo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Alamo is located in Wheeler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,301 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alamo <2>
  • Wilkinson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bales, with the one closest to Bales listed first.
    • Beech Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Beech Hill is located in Wilkinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Hill
    • Toomsboro
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Irwinton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Bales ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bales.

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

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

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

  • Beasley Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Graham Memorial Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • The Church of Jesus Christ Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Silver Leaf Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Red Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Brewton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Gethsemane Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Union Baptist Church Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Baptist Church Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Union Baptist Church Cemetery is located 8 miles [12.9 km]<3> to the east of Dublin.
    • The Union Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Union Baptist Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1982090 <4>
  • Odom Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Drake Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Foskey Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (300 more) ...
    • Brachley Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Bethlehem Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Minter Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)

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.

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

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

  • Lovett
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Lovett is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovett
  • Condor
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Condor is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Condor
  • Spann
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Spann is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spann
  • Adrian
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Dublin
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Tweed
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Tweed is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tweed
  • Wrightsville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Kite
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Kite is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kite <2>
  • Harrison
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
  • Pringle
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Pringle is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pringle
  • Covena
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Covena is located in Emanuel County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covena
  • Hatoff ‑ Historic
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Hatoff is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatoff
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Springhaven ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Springhaven is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springhaven
    • Dudley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Dexter
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Bales ...

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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bales.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bales, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bales.

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 Bales:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Bales, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bales) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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.