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 Desser (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 Desser. 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.
Desser is located in Seminole 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 Seminole County: Houston (AL), Jackson (FL), Decatur, Early & Miller.
Below are the counties that are near Desser. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Desser:
- Seminole County (The home county of Desser)
- The following are listed by their distance from Desser, with the one closest to Desser listed first.
- Reynoldsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Reynoldsville is located in Seminole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsville
- Estimated population in 2019: 960 people
- Butlers Ferry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Butlers Ferry is located in Seminole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butlers Ferry
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,759 people
- Steam Mill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Steam Mill is located in Seminole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steam Mill
- Iron City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Donalsonville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Baker County
- Lamar ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lamar is located in Baker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Desser, with the one closest to Desser listed first.
- Brinson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Recovery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Recovery is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Recovery
- Population from the 2010 Census: 33,015 people
- Faceville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Faceville is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faceville
- Bainbridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Fowlstown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Attapulgus
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Climax
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Vada
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Vada is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vada
- Estimated population in 2019: 56,457 people
- Early County
- The following are listed by their distance from Desser, with the one closest to Desser listed first.
- Jakin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Springfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Springfield is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,084 people
- Cedar Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Centerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Centerville is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Hentown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hentown is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hentown
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,944 people
- Sawhatchee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Sawhatchee is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawhatchee
- Damascus
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Douglass Crossroads
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Douglass Crossroads is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglass Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 33,992 people
- Miller County
- The following are listed by their distance from Desser, with the one closest to Desser listed first.
- Floydtown ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Floydtown is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floydtown
- Boykin
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Boykin is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
- Mayhaw
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Mayhaw is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayhaw
- Colquitt
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Houston County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Desser, with the one closest to Desser listed first.
- Gordon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gordon is located in Houston County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 328 people
- Cottonwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ashford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Calhoun County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Desser, with the one closest to Desser listed first.
- Ocheesee
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Ocheesee is located in Calhoun County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheesee
- Altha
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Chipola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chipola is located in Calhoun County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipola
- Gadsden County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Desser, with the one closest to Desser listed first.
- Chattahoochee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- River Junction
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- River Junction is located in Gadsden County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Junction
- Mount Pleasant
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Sycamore
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Sycamore is located in Gadsden County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Gretna
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Greensboro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Douglas City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Douglas City is located in Gadsden County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas City
- Quincy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jackson County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Desser, with the one closest to Desser listed first.
- Butler ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Butler is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
- Parramore ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Parramore is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parramore
- Sneads
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Two Egg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Two Egg is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Two Egg
- Inwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Inwood is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inwood
- Grand Ridge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bascom
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Cypress
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Malone
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Marianna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Desser, see our County-by-County Page for Desser.
Cemeteries Near Desser ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Desser.
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 Desser - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Desser covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Desser, with the one closest to Desser listed first.
- Hebrew Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Chason Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Wooten Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fairchild Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fairchild Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Trawick Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Owens - Bellview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Galilee MB Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Thursby Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Cloud Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Olive Grove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brunson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (192 more) ...
- Whiddon Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Robinson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hammock Springs FWB Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Desser in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Desser.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Desser, with the one closest to Desser listed first.
- Brinson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Recovery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Recovery is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Recovery
- Population from the 2010 Census: 33,015 people
- Sneads
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Chattahoochee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- River Junction
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- River Junction is located in Gadsden County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Junction
- Spooner ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Spooner is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spooner
- Inwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Inwood is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inwood
- Jakin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Twilight ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Twilight is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilight
- Bascom
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Faceville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Faceville is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faceville
- Eldorendo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Eldorendo is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorendo
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Horns Cross Road ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Horns Cross Road is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horns Cross Road
- Cypress
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bainbridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Desser. See our List of 1890's Communities around Desser.
Newspapers Published in Desser ...
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 Desser.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Desser, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Desser.
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 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 Desser:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Seminole County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Baker County
- Decatur County
- Early County
- Miller County
- Houston County
- Calhoun County
- Gadsden County
- Jackson 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> | 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 Desser, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Desser) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |