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 Earls Ford (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 Earls Ford. 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.
Name Variations for Earls Ford ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
While the name of this community is Earls Ford, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Earls Ford may originally have been Earl's Ford.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Earls Ford might be written as Earl Ford.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 and doctors 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.
Earls Ford is located in Rabun 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 Rabun County: Habersham, Towns, Clay (NC), Jackson (NC), Macon (NC) & Oconee (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Earls Ford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Earls Ford:
- Rabun County (The home county of Earls Ford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Earls Ford, with the one closest to Earls Ford listed first.
- Antioch
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Antioch is located in Rabun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Sky Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Clayton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Mountain City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Dillard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tiger
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lakemont
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wiley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tallulah Falls
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Germany
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Germany is located in Rabun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germany
- Franklin County
- Gumlog
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Gumlog is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gumlog
- Habersham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Earls Ford, with the one closest to Earls Ford listed first.
- Tugaloo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tugaloo is located in Habersham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tugaloo
- Turnerville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Clarkesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hills is located in Habersham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills
- Mauldins ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mauldins is located in Habersham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauldins
- Estimated population in 2019: 225 people
- Demorest
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Airy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cornelia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Stephens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Earls Ford, with the one closest to Earls Ford listed first.
- Jarrett
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Jarrett is located in Stephens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,974 people
- Toccoa Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Toccoa
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Carnes Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Carnes Creek is located in Stephens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnes Creek
- Estimated population in 2019: 601 people
- Eastanollee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Avalon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Avalon is located in Stephens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
- Martin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Towns County
- The following are listed by their distance from Earls Ford, with the one closest to Earls Ford listed first.
- Tate City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Tate City is located in Towns County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate City
- Hiawassee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Hunt ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Hunt is located in Towns County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Earls Ford, with the one closest to Earls Ford listed first.
- Sautee - Nacoochee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Helen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nacoochee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nacoochee is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nacoochee
- Naguchee ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Naguchee is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naguchee
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,141 people
- Clay County (NC)
- Elf
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Elf is located in Clay County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elf
- Jackson County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Earls Ford, with the one closest to Earls Ford listed first.
- Highlands
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Cashiers
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Erastus
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Erastus is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erastus
- Glenville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Tuckasegee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Argura
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Argura is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argura
- Forest Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Forest Hills is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
- Forest Hills has also been known as:
- Forest Hills village
- Village of Forest Hills
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Forest Hills <2>
- Gay
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Gay is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
- Cullowhee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- East Laport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Macon County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Earls Ford, with the one closest to Earls Ford listed first.
- Scaly Mountain
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lickskillet
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Orlando
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Orlando is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Otto
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Ellijay
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Franklin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Leatherman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Transylvania County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Earls Ford, with the one closest to Earls Ford listed first.
- Sapphire
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Lake Toxaway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Rosman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rosman is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 624 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosman <2>
- Anderson County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Earls Ford, with the one closest to Earls Ford listed first.
- Townville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pendleton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oconee County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Earls Ford, with the one closest to Earls Ford listed first.
- Mountain Rest
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Longcreek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle Creek
- Tamassee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Walhalla
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- West Union
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Salem
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Harbin ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Harbin is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbin
- Westminster
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Madison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Madison is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
- Richland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Seneca
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Newry
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pickens County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Earls Ford, with the one closest to Earls Ford listed first.
- Nine Times
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Nine Times is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Times
- Six Mile
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sunset
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Crow Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Crow Creek is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Creek
- Rocky Bottom
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rocky Bottom is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Bottom
- Clemson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Central
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Isaqueena Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Isaqueena Village is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isaqueena Village
- Norris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Pickens
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Earls Ford, see our County-by-County Page for Earls Ford.
Cemeteries Near Earls Ford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Earls Ford.
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 Earls Ford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Earls Ford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Earls Ford, with the one closest to Earls Ford listed first.
- Hamby Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Snyder Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Holden Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Speed Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Kell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Billingsley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Burrell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Page Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Antioch UMC Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hale Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hale Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Laurel Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (328 more) ...
- Mountain Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Monte Vista Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<3>
While we didn't find Earls Ford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Earls Ford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Earls Ford, with the one closest to Earls Ford listed first.
- Whetstone
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Whetstone is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whetstone
- Mountain Rest
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pine Mountain
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Mountain is located in Rabun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mountain
- Longcreek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle Creek
- Clayton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Scaly Mountain
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tiger
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Walhalla
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Highlands
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Tallulah Falls
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- West Union
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Tugaloo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tugaloo is located in Habersham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tugaloo
- Salem
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Otto
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Earls Ford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Earls Ford.
Newspapers Published in Earls Ford ...
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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Earls Ford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Earls Ford, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Earls Ford.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Earls Ford:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Rabun County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Habersham County
- Stephens County
- Towns County
- White County
- Clay County
- Jackson County
- Macon County
- Transylvania County
- Anderson County
- Oconee County
- Pickens County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Georgia
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Earls Ford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Earls Ford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |