RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Georgia >> Washington County >> Downs >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Downs (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 Downs. 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 and hospitals 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.

Downs is located in Washington 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 Washington County: Baldwin, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Johnson, Warren & Wilkinson.

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

  • Washington County     (The home county of Downs)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Davisboro
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Warthen
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Sandersville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Riddleville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Riddleville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riddleville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
    • Tennille
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Harrison
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Deepstep
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Goat Town
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Goat Town is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goat Town
    • Gardner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Gardner is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardner
      • Estimated population in 2019: 201 people
    • Oconee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Baldwin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Black Spring
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Black Spring is located in Baldwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Spring
    • Oconee Old Town ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • 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 Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Vidette
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Vidette is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vidette
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
    • Gough
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Rosier
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Rosier is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosier
    • Magruder
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Magruder is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magruder
    • Saint Clair
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Saint Clair is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
    • Torbit Station ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Torbit Station is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torbit Station
      • Torbit Station has also been known as:
      • Torbit
    • Brushy Creek ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Brushy Creek is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek
    • Number Ten ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Number Ten is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Number Ten
      • Estimated population in 2019: 145 people
    • Keysville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Drone
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Drone is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drone
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 14,568 people
    • Midville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Emanuel County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Blundale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Blundale is located in Emanuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blundale
    • Colemans Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Colemans Lake is located in Emanuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colemans Lake
  • Glascock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Edge Hill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Edge Hill is located in Glascock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edge Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
    • Mitchell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Gibson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Zebulon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Zebulon is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zebulon
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,228 people
    • Sparta
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Springfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Springfield is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Stapletons Crossroads
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Stapletons Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stapletons Crossroads
      • Estimated population in 2019: 393 people
    • Omaha Springs
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Omaha Springs is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha Springs
    • Avera
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Avera is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avera
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avera <1>
    • Stapleton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Louisville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Bartow
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Wrens Station
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Wrens Station is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrens Station
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,939 people
    • Zebina
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Zebina is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zebina
    • Wrens
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Wrens is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,924 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wrens <1>
    • Moxley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Moxley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moxley
    • Wadley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • 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>
    • Matthews
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Wrightsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Kite
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • 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>
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Tuckers Crossroad
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Tuckers Crossroad is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckers Crossroad
    • Midway
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Midway is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,061 people
    • Lovett
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Lovett is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovett
  • McDuffie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Megahee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Megahee is located in McDuffie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Megahee
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,031 people
    • Boneville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Thomson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Dearing
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Warren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Jewell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Warrenton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Camak
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Mesena
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Norwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Wilkinson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Beech Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Beech Hill is located in Wilkinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Hill
    • Toomsboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Downs ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Downs.

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

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

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

  • Downs Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Whiteoak Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Amerson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Halls Cross Roads Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • John Sparks Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Gordon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Newsome Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Euphrates Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Henderson Grove AME Church Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (548 more) ...
    • Providence Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Magnolia Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • McCoy Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Downs had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Chalker ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Chalker is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalker
  • Warthen
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Sun Hill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Sun Hill is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Hill
  • Sandersville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Agricola
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Agricola is located in Glascock County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agricola
  • Lindsey ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Lindsey is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindsey
  • Mitchell
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Tennille
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Riddleville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Riddleville is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riddleville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
  • Avera
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Avera is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avera
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avera <1>
  • Gibson
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Stapleton
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Harrison
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Louisville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Deepstep
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Downs ...

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 66 newspapers that have been published in the area around Downs.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Downs, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Downs.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Downs:

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 Downs, 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- Downs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.