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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 Donalsonville (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 Donalsonville. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Donalsonville is located in Seminole County and is the County Seat.

To see how the shape of Georgia's counties 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 Donalsonville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Donalsonville:

  • Seminole County     (The home county of Donalsonville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donalsonville, with the one closest to Donalsonville listed first.
    • Iron City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Steam Mill
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Reynoldsville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reynoldsville have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsville
      • Reynoldsville is located in Seminole County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 960 people
    • Butlers Ferry
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Butlers Ferry have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butlers Ferry
      • Butlers Ferry is located in Seminole County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,759 people
  • Baker County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donalsonville, with the one closest to Donalsonville listed first.
    • Lamar ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lamar. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
      • Lamar is located in Baker County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Lamar
      • From Donalsonville to Lamar
    • Anna
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Anna. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anna
      • Anna is located in Baker County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Anna
      • From Donalsonville to Anna
    • Mimsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Hawkinstown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hawkinstown have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkinstown
      • Hawkinstown is located in Baker County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 5,270 people
    • Milford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Calhoun County
  • Decatur County
  • Early County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donalsonville, with the one closest to Donalsonville listed first.
    • Jakin
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jakin have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jakin
      • Jakin is located in Early County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jakin <1>
    • Springfield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Springfield have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
      • Springfield is located in Early County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 4,084 people
    • Cedar Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Centerville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Hentown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hentown have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hentown
      • Hentown is located in Early County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,944 people
    • Sawhatchee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Damascus
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Douglass Crossroads
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Douglass Crossroads have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglass Crossroads
      • Douglass Crossroads is located in Early County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 33,992 people
    • Rock Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rock Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Hill
      • Rock Hill is located in Early County
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 248 people
    • Blakely
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Bancroft
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bancroft have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
      • Bancroft is located in Early County
    • Douglasville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Miller County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donalsonville, with the one closest to Donalsonville listed first.
    • Mayhaw
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mayhaw. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayhaw
      • Mayhaw is located in Miller County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Mayhaw
      • From Donalsonville to Mayhaw
    • Floydtown ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Boykin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Colquitt
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Henry County (AL)
    • Haleburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Haleburg have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haleburg
      • Haleburg is located in Henry County (AL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
  • Houston County (AL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donalsonville, with the one closest to Donalsonville listed first.
    • Gordon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gordon have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
      • Gordon is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 328 people
    • Columbia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Ashford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ashford have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
      • Ashford is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,202 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ashford <1>
    • Barber
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Barber. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barber
      • Barber is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Barber
      • From Donalsonville to Barber
    • Williams
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Williams have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams
      • Williams is located in Houston County (AL)
    • Avon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Avon have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
      • Avon is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
    • Cottonwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Cowarts
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cowarts have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowarts
      • Cowarts is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,097 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cowarts <1>
    • Webb
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Webb have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb
      • Webb is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,479 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Webb <1>
    • Keyton's
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Keyton's. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyton's
      • Keyton's is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Keyton's
      • From Donalsonville to Keyton's
    • Madrid
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Madrid have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madrid
      • Madrid is located in Houston County (AL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 293 people
  • Gadsden County (FL)
  • Jackson County (FL)

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

Cemeteries Near Donalsonville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Donalsonville.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<5>

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

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

  • Spooner ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Spooner have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spooner
    • Spooner is located in Miller County
  • Horns Cross Road ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Horns Cross Road have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horns Cross Road
    • Horns Cross Road is located in Miller County
  • Jakin
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jakin have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jakin
    • Jakin is located in Early County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jakin <1>
  • Brinson
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Twilight ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Twilight have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilight
    • Twilight is located in Miller County
  • Mayhaw
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mayhaw. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayhaw
    • Mayhaw is located in Miller County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Mayhaw
    • From Donalsonville to Mayhaw
  • Colquitt
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Eldorendo
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eldorendo have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorendo
    • Eldorendo is located in Decatur County
  • Cedar Springs
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Bascom
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Greenwood
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Bainbridge
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Damascus
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Recovery
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Recovery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Recovery
      • Recovery is located in Decatur County
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 33,015 people
    • Sneads
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Donalsonville ...

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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Donalsonville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Donalsonville, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Donalsonville.

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 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 Donalsonville:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Donalsonville. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Georgia: https://georgia.gov/

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>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<3>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<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.
<5>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 Donalsonville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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- Donalsonville) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Donalsonville. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 31.0404, Longitude: -84.8793    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025