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 Bethel (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 Bethel. 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.
Bethel is located in Effingham 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 Effingham County: Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Screven, Hampton (SC) & Jasper (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Bethel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bethel:
- Effingham County (The home county of Bethel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Springfield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Guyton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Haddonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Haddonville is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddonville
- Estimated population in 2019: 965 people
- Clyo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Egypt
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Egypt is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Two Sisters Ferry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Two Sisters Ferry is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Two Sisters Ferry
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,063 people
- Marlow
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Marlow is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Rincon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Exley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Exley is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exley
- Population from the 2010 Census: 2,894 people
- Eden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Meldrim
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bryan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Ellabell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Pembroke
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bulloch County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Hubert
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hubert is located in Bulloch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubert
- Stilson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Stilson is located in Bulloch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stilson
- Leefield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Leefield is located in Bulloch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leefield
- Brooklet
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Clito
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Clito is located in Bulloch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clito
- Eagle Court
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Eagle Court is located in Bulloch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Court
- Population from the 2010 Census: 164 people
- Olde Towne
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Olde Towne is located in Bulloch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olde Towne
- Statesborough
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Statesborough is located in Bulloch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesborough
- Estimated population in 2019: 32,954 people
- Statesboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Chatham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Port Wentworth
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomingdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Port Wentworth Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Port Wentworth Junction is located in Chatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Wentworth Junction
- Estimated population in 2019: 9,641 people
- Pooler
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Chatham City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Chatham City is located in Chatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham City
- Garden City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sharon Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sharon Park is located in Chatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon Park
- Estimated population in 2019: 126 people
- Rossignol Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rossignol Hill is located in Chatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossignol Hill
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,009 people
- Woodville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Woodville is located in Chatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Estimated population in 2019: 382 people
- Alabama Junction
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Alabama Junction is located in Chatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alabama Junction
- Carver Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Carver Village is located in Chatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carver Village
- Florida Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Florida Junction is located in Chatham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florida Junction
- Savannah
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Screven County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Oliver
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Newington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Captolo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Captolo is located in Screven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captolo
- Cameron
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cameron is located in Screven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Estimated population in 2019: 5,012 people
- Cooperville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Cooperville is located in Screven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
- Dover
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Ogeechee ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ogeechee is located in Screven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogeechee
- Former name for Ogeechee:
- Oguchee
- Sylvania
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Beaufort County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Hardeeville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Okatie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Pritchardville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pritchardville is located in Beaufort County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pritchardville
- Hampton County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Garnett
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Scotia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Furman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Estill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Luray
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Jasper County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Tillman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Pineland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ridgeland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bethel, see our County-by-County Page for Bethel.
Cemeteries Near Bethel ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bethel.
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 Bethel - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bethel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Kieffer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ferguson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Wheeler Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Newton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Old Providence Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stillwell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Metzger Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Old Ebenezer Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Gnann Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Union Spring Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Ryal Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (207 more) ...
- Foy Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foy Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Foy Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<2> to the south of Egypt.
- The Foy Cemetery has also been known as:
- Elam Baptist Church Cemetery
- Elam Cemetery
- Elam Egypt Baptist Church Cemetery
- Foy Family Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2197832 <3>
- Elkins Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pisgah Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<4>
While we didn't find Bethel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bethel.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Springfield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tusculum
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Tusculum is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tusculum
- Guyton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Stillwell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Stillwell is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stillwell
- Oaky
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Oaky is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaky
- Clyo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Egypt
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Egypt is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Marlow
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Marlow is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Rincon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ivanhoe
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ivanhoe is located in Bulloch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe
- Oliver
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Eneck ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Eneck is located in Screven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eneck
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Tillman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Garnett
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Brighton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Brighton is located in Hampton County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bethel. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bethel.
Newspapers Published in Bethel ...
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 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bethel.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bethel, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bethel.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Bethel:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Effingham County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bryan County
- Bulloch County
- Chatham County
- Screven County
- Beaufort County
- Hampton County
- Jasper County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Georgia
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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bethel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Bethel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |