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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 Donovan (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 Donovan. 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 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.

Donovan is located in Johnson 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 Johnson County: Emanuel, Jefferson, Laurens, Treutlen, Washington & Wilkinson.

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

  • Johnson County     (The home county of Donovan)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donovan, with the one closest to Donovan listed first.
    • Wrightsville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Kite
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Kite is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kite <1>
    • Adrian
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Baldwin County
    • Oconee Old Town ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Oconee Old Town is located in Baldwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oconee Old Town
  • Burke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donovan, with the one closest to Donovan listed first.
    • Number Ten ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Number Ten is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Number Ten
      • Estimated population in 2019: 145 people
    • Midville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Magruder
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Magruder is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magruder
    • Rosier
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Rosier is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosier
  • Emanuel County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donovan, with the one closest to Donovan listed first.
    • Blundale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Blundale is located in Emanuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blundale
    • Norristown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Blun
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Blun is located in Emanuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blun
    • Colemans Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Colemans Lake is located in Emanuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colemans Lake
    • Summertown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Swainsboro
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Nunez
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Glascock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donovan, with the one closest to Donovan listed first.
    • Edge Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Edge Hill is located in Glascock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edge Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
    • Mitchell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donovan, with the one closest to Donovan listed first.
    • Bartow
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Wadley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Wadley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,834 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wadley <1>
    • Moxley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Moxley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moxley
    • Louisville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Old Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Old Town is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Stapletons Crossroads
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Stapletons Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stapletons Crossroads
      • Estimated population in 2019: 393 people
    • Omaha Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Omaha Springs is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha Springs
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donovan, with the one closest to Donovan listed first.
    • Lovett
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Lovett is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovett
    • Midway
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Midway is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,061 people
    • Tuckers Crossroad
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Tuckers Crossroad is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckers Crossroad
    • East Dublin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Dublin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Rockledge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Dudley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Montrose
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Dexter
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Treutlen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donovan, with the one closest to Donovan listed first.
    • Gillis Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Gillis Springs is located in Treutlen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillis Springs
    • Soperton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donovan, with the one closest to Donovan listed first.
    • Harrison
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Riddleville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Riddleville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riddleville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
    • Tennille
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Davisboro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Sandersville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Gardner
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Gardner is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardner
      • Estimated population in 2019: 201 people
    • Oconee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Deepstep
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Warthen
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Goat Town
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Goat Town is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goat Town
  • Wilkinson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donovan, with the one closest to Donovan listed first.
    • Beech Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Beech Hill is located in Wilkinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Hill
    • Toomsboro
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Irwinton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • McIntyre
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Dedrich
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Dedrich is located in Wilkinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dedrich
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 2,146 people

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

Cemeteries Near Donovan ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Donovan.

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

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

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

  • West View Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Pleasant Plains Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Community MB Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Curry Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Bethany Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • New Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Dent Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Brachley Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Gilead Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • New Bethel Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (321 more) ...
    • Mt. Moriah Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Wise Family Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • The Wise Family Cemetery is located on private property - be sure to secure permission before visiting.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wise Family Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Wise Family Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the southeast of Tennille.
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2426386 <3>
    • Price Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)

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

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

  • Wrightsville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Harrison
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Pringle
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Pringle is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pringle
  • Spann
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Spann is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spann
  • Lovett
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Lovett is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovett
  • Riddleville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Riddleville is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riddleville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
  • Kite
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Kite is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kite <1>
  • Tennille
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Sun Hill
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Sun Hill is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Hill
  • Sandersville
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
  • Pinetucky ‑ Historic
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Pinetucky is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinetucky
  • Bartow
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Oconee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Condor
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Condor is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Condor
    • Beech Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Beech Hill is located in Wilkinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Hill

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

Newspapers Published in Donovan ...

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 63 newspapers that have been published in the area around Donovan.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Donovan, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Donovan.

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 websites either 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 Donovan:

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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Donovan) 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 Donovan, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.