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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 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 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 Grady 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 Grady County: Gadsden (FL), Leon (FL), Decatur, Mitchell & Thomas.

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:

  • Grady County     (The home county of Bethel)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
    • Reno
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Reno is located in Grady County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
      • Estimated population in 2019: 285 people
    • Good Hope ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Good Hope is located in Grady County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
      • Estimated population in 2019: 300 people
    • Calvary
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Midway
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Midway is located in Grady County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Whigham
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Cairo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Woodland
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodland is located in Grady County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
      • Estimated population in 2019: 353 people
    • Spence
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Spence is located in Grady County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spence
  • Baker County
    • Lamar ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lamar is located in Baker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
  • Decatur County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
    • Climax
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Attapulgus
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Fowlstown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Bainbridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Faceville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Faceville is located in Decatur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faceville
    • Vada
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Vada is located in Decatur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vada
      • Estimated population in 2019: 56,457 people
    • Recovery
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Recovery is located in Decatur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Recovery
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 33,015 people
    • Brinson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Mitchell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
    • Pelham
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Greenwood ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Greenwood is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
  • Seminole County
    • Reynoldsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Reynoldsville is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsville
      • Estimated population in 2019: 960 people
  • Thomas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
    • Dewey City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Dewey City is located in Thomas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewey City
    • Thomasville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Ochlocknee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Newark
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Newark is located in Thomas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
      • Estimated population in 2019: 783 people
    • Fredonia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Fredonia is located in Thomas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
    • Hansell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Hansell is located in Thomas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hansell
      • Estimated population in 2019: 6,534 people
    • Meigs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Boston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Coolidge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Gadsden County (FL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
    • Havana
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Havana is located in Gadsden County (FL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,695 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Havana <1>
    • Midway
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Midway is located in Gadsden County (FL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,956 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Midway <1>
    • Quincy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Quincy is located in Gadsden County (FL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,804 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Quincy <1>
    • Douglas City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Douglas City is located in Gadsden County (FL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas City
    • Gretna
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Gretna is located in Gadsden County (FL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gretna
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,430 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gretna <1>
    • Mount Pleasant
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Greensboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Jefferson County (FL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
    • Lloyd
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Monticello
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Leon County (FL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
    • Ocklockonee ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Ocklockonee is located in Leon County (FL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocklockonee
    • Iamonia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Iamonia is located in Leon County (FL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iamonia
    • Bradfordville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Bradfordville is located in Leon County (FL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfordville
    • Miccosukee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Tallahassee
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Capitola
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Capitola is located in Leon County (FL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitola
    • Woodville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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.

  • Bethel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • St. Luke Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Pine Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Gainey Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Broome Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Higdon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Higdon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Harrison Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Herring Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Pedemont Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (258 more) ...
    • Ebenezer Stephens Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer Stephens Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Ebenezer Stephens Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<2> to the south of Calvary.
    • Elkins Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Sasser Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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.<3>

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.

  • Ocklockonee ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Ocklockonee is located in Leon County (FL)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocklockonee
  • Concord
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Concord is located in Gadsden County (FL)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
  • Iamonia
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Iamonia is located in Leon County (FL)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iamonia
  • Climax
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Attapulgus
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Scotland
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Scotland is located in Gadsden County (FL)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotland
  • Bradfordville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Bradfordville is located in Leon County (FL)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfordville
  • Fowlstown
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Miccosukee
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Metcalf
    (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Metcalf is located in Thomas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metcalf
  • Thomasville
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
  • Bainbridge
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Quincy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Quincy is located in Gadsden County (FL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,804 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Quincy <1>
    • Midway
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Midway is located in Gadsden County (FL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,956 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Midway <1>
    • Ochlocknee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)

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 65 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 27 miles [43.5 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 like to 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:

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 '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- Bethel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Bethel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.