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 Erastus (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 Erastus. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Erastus is primarily located in Banks County. A portion of Erastus extends into Franklin 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 Banks County: Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Jackson, Madison & Stephens.
Below are the counties that are near Erastus. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Erastus:
- Banks County (The home county of Erastus)
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Homer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Maysville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Barrow County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Statham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Russell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Russell is located in Barrow County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Winder
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bethlehem
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Jefferson Valley
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Jefferson Valley is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson Valley
- Estimated population in 2019: 939 people
- Athens
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Winterville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lexington Heights
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Lexington Heights is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexington Heights
- Estimated population in 2019: 228 people
- Riverside
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Riverside is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Estimated population in 2016: 35 people
- Cedar Shoals Estates
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Cedar Shoals Estates is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Shoals Estates
- Population from the 2010 Census: 74 people
- Pine Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Pine Lake is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lake
- Estimated population in 2019: 754 people
- Cleveland Station
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cleveland Station is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland Station
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,165 people
- Chamberlin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Chamberlin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlin
- Estimated population in 2019: 30,307 people
- Elbert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Bowman
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Harper
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Harper is located in Elbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Dewy Rose
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Goss
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Goss is located in Elbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goss
- Centerville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Centerville is located in Elbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Elberton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Harmony
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Harmony is located in Elbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- Silk Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Silk Mills is located in Elbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silk Mills
- Estimated population in 2019: 277 people
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Cromers
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Cromers is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromers
- Population from the 2010 Census: 639 people
- Plainview
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Plainview is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainview
- Aquilla ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Aquilla is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquilla
- Carnesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Franklin Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Royston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Parhams
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Parhams is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parhams
- Canon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lavonia
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Gumlog
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gumlog is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gumlog
- Habersham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Alto
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Baldwin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Raoul
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Raoul is located in Habersham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raoul
- Cornelia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Airy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Demorest
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hills is located in Habersham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills
- Clarkesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Turnerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Gillsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Lula
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jarrett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Jarrett is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Sugar Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Sugar Hill is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Hill
- White Sulphur Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Surf Side Club Estates
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Surf Side Club Estates is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surf Side Club Estates
- Estimated population in 2019: 202 people
- Candler
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Candler is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Candler
- Klondike
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Klondike is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
- Rainbow Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Rainbow Village is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rainbow Village
- New Holland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- New Holland is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Holland
- Gainesville Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Gainesville Mills is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville Mills
- Estimated population in 2019: 43,232 people
- Gainesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Brookton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Brookton is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookton
- Hart County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Bowersville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Flat Shoals
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Flat Shoals is located in Hart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Shoals
- Maretts
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Maretts is located in Hart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maretts
- Hartwell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Reed Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Reed Creek is located in Hart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed Creek
- Cooleys Ferry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cooleys Ferry is located in Hart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooleys Ferry
- Estimated population in 2019: 529 people
- Dooleys Ferry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Dooleys Ferry is located in Hart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooleys Ferry
- Estimated population in 2019: 136 people
- Crawfords Ferry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Crawfords Ferry is located in Hart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawfords Ferry
- Estimated population in 2019: 473 people
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Commerce
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nicholson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dry Pond
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Dry Pond is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Pond
- Estimated population in 2019: 15,881 people
- Arcade
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Arcade is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcade
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,040 people
- Jefferson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Holly Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Holly Springs is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Attica
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Attica is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Talasee ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Talasee is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talasee
- Estimated population in 2019: 848 people
- Pendergrass
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Talmo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Braselton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hoschton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Shiloh
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Shiloh is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Ila
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Madison Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Madison Springs is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison Springs
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,210 people
- Former name for Madison Springs:
- Alexanderville
- Planter
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Planter is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Planter
- Dalton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dalton is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalton
- Estimated population in 2019: 33,665 people
- Danielsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Harrison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Harrison is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Estimated population in 2019: 442 people
- Hull
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Patterson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Estimated population in 2019: 755 people
- Colbert
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Comer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Carlton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oconee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Overlook Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Overlook Village is located in Oconee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overlook Village
- Bogart
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Spartan Lane
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Spartan Lane is located in Oconee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spartan Lane
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,230 people
- Osceola Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Osceola Village is located in Oconee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola Village
- Eastville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Eastville is located in Oconee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastville
- Marshall Estates
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Marshall Estates is located in Oconee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshall Estates
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,227 people
- Watkinsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cumberland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cumberland is located in Oconee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Estimated population in 2019: 6,547 people
- Bishop
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- North High Shoals
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- North High Shoals is located in Oconee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North High Shoals
- Population from the 2020 Census: 736 people
- Oglethorpe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Arnoldsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Cherokee Corner ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Cherokee Corner is located in Oglethorpe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Corner
- Crawford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lexington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Veribest
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Veribest is located in Oglethorpe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Veribest
- Estimated population in 2019: 124 people
- Stephens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Martin
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Carnes Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Carnes Creek is located in Stephens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnes Creek
- Estimated population in 2019: 601 people
- Eastanollee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Avalon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Avalon is located in Stephens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
- Toccoa
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Toccoa Falls
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Jarrett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Jarrett is located in Stephens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,974 people
- White County
- Leo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Leo is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leo
- Leo has also been known as:
- Meldean
- Anderson County (SC)
- Andersonville ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Andersonville is located in Anderson County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andersonville
- Oconee County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Madison
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Madison is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
- Fair Play
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Harbin ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Harbin is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbin
- Oakway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oakway is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakway
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Erastus, see our County-by-County Page for Erastus.
Cemeteries Near Erastus ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Erastus.
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 Erastus - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Erastus covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Hebron Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- McGinnis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Allen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Perry Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Culbertson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Flagham Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Trinity UMC Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- New Salem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Beaverdam Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Thomas Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Chandler Cemetery #4
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (551 more) ...
- Wilson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hix - Williams Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Chandler Cemetery #1
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Erastus had a population of 60 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Erastus, with the one closest to Erastus listed first.
- Fort Lamar
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Fort Lamar is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lamar
- Hix
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hix is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hix
- Cromers
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Cromers is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromers
- Population from the 2010 Census: 639 people
- Arp
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Arp is located in Banks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arp
- Ashland
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Ashland is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Ila
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut Hill ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Walnut Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill
- Jewelville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Jewelville is located in Banks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewelville
- Planter
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Planter is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Planter
- Madison Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Madison Springs is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison Springs
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,210 people
- Former name for Madison Springs:
- Alexanderville
- Nicholson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Carnesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Homer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Apple Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Apple Valley is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Valley
- Danielsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Erastus. See our List of 1890's Communities around Erastus.
Newspapers Published in Erastus ...
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 84 newspapers that have been published in the area around Erastus.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Erastus, 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 Erastus.
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 Erastus:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Banks County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barrow County
- Clarke County
- Elbert County
- Franklin County
- Habersham County
- Hall County
- Hart County
- Jackson County
- Madison County
- Oconee County
- Oglethorpe County
- Stephens County
- White County
- Anderson County
- Oconee 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> | 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. |
| <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 Erastus, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Erastus) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |