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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 Center (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 Center. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

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 south 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.

Center is located in Toombs 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 Toombs County: Appling, Candler, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Montgomery, Tattnall & Treutlen.

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

  • Toombs County     (The home county of Center)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Rock Springs
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Rock Springs is located in Toombs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Springs
    • Santa Claus
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Santa Claus is located in Toombs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Claus
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
    • Charles
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Charles is located in Toombs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charles
    • Vidalia
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Lyons
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Toombs Central
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Toombs Central is located in Toombs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toombs Central
      • Estimated population in 2019: 486 people
    • Cedar Crossing
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Cedar Crossing is located in Toombs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Crossing
    • Ohoopee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Ohoopee is located in Toombs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ohoopee
  • Appling County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Graham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Graham is located in Appling County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 289 people
    • Baxley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Phillipi
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Phillipi is located in Appling County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipi
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 707 people
    • Surrency
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Candler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Canoe
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Canoe is located in Candler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canoe
      • Estimated population in 2019: 785 people
    • Metter
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Emanuel County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Oak Park
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Stillmore
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Nunez
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Norristown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
  • Evans County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Bellville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Hagan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Claxton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Jeff Davis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Tallahassee
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Tallahassee is located in Jeff Davis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallahassee
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,185 people
    • Hazlehurst
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Lumber City Ferry
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lumber City Ferry is located in Jeff Davis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumber City Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,257 people
    • Quinn ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Quinn is located in Jeff Davis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinn
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,652 people
  • Johnson County
    • Adrian
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Rockledge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Cedar Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Petross
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Petross is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petross
    • Alston
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Higgston
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Higgston is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higgston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
    • Uvalda
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ailey
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • 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 <1>
    • Mount Vernon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Tarrytown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Tattnall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Reidsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Collins
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Cobbtown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Cobbtown is located in Tattnall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbtown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 342 people
      • Former name for Cobbtown:
      • Cobb Town
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cobbtown <1>
    • Manassas
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Mendes
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Mendes is located in Tattnall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendes
      • Estimated population in 2019: 456 people
    • Midway
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Midway is located in Tattnall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
      • Estimated population in 2019: 657 people
    • Glennville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Telfair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Lumber City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Scotland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • McRae - Helena
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • McRae
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • McRae is located in Telfair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRae
    • Helena
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Treutlen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Soperton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Gillis Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Gillis Springs is located in Treutlen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillis Springs
  • Wheeler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Ochwalkee
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Ochwalkee is located in Wheeler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ochwalkee
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,732 people
    • Glenwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Alamo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • 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 <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Center ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Center.

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

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

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

  • Center Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Lake View Memorial Gardens
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Galbreath Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Sharpe Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Sharpe Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Sharpe Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Odom Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Wilks Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Bell Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Mathias Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (344 more) ...
    • Pinecrest Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • East Park Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Cedar Crossing UMC Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Crossing UMC Cemetery
      • The Cedar Crossing UMC Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Cedar Crossing Cemetery

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

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

  • Vidalia
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Higgston
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Higgston is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higgston
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
  • McGregor
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • McGregor is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGregor
  • Ailey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • 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 <1>
  • English Eddy
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • English Eddy is located in Toombs County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Eddy
  • Mount Vernon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Kibbee
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Kibbee is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibbee
  • Altamaha
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Altamaha is located in Tattnall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamaha
    • Former name for Altamaha:
    • Atamaha
  • Reidsville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Collins
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
  • Lumber City
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Johnsonville ‑ Historic
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Johnsonville is located in Appling County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonville
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Graham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Graham is located in Appling County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 289 people
    • Pine Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Pine Grove is located in Appling County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
    • Towns
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Towns is located in Telfair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Towns

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

Newspapers Published in Center ...

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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Center.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Center, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Center.

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 Center:

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 Center, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Center) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.