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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 Excelsior (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 Excelsior. 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 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.

Excelsior is located in Candler 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 Candler County: Bulloch, Emanuel, Evans, Tattnall & Toombs.

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

  • Candler County     (The home county of Excelsior)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Pulaski
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Metter
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Canoe
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Canoe is located in Candler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canoe
      • Estimated population in 2019: 785 people
  • Bryan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Pembroke
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Ellabell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Bulloch County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • New Hope
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • New Hope is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
    • Register
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Eagle Court
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Eagle Court is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Court
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 164 people
    • Olde Towne
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Olde Towne is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olde Towne
    • Statesboro
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Portal
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Statesborough
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Statesborough is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesborough
      • Estimated population in 2019: 32,954 people
    • Kites Spur ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Kites Spur is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kites Spur
      • Estimated population in 2019: 227 people
    • Aaron
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Aaron is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aaron
    • Brooklet
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Clito
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Clito is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clito
    • Leefield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Leefield is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leefield
  • Effingham County
    • Egypt
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Egypt is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
  • Emanuel County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Stillmore
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Twin City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Garfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Nunez
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Swainsboro
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Evans County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Bellville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Claxton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Hagan
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Daisy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Jenkins County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Thrift
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Thrift is located in Jenkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thrift
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,623 people
    • Scarboro
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Scarboro is located in Jenkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scarboro
    • Emmalane
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Emmalane is located in Jenkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmalane
  • Montgomery County
    • Higgston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Higgston is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higgston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
  • Screven County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Cameron
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Cameron is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
      • Estimated population in 2019: 5,012 people
    • Dover
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Cooperville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Cooperville is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
    • Ogeechee ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Ogeechee is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogeechee
      • Former name for Ogeechee:
      • Oguchee
    • Rocky Ford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Oliver
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Captolo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Captolo is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captolo
  • Tattnall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Cobbtown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Cobbtown is located in Tattnall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbtown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 342 people
      • Former name for Cobbtown:
      • Cobb Town
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cobbtown <1>
    • Manassas
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Collins
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Reidsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Midway
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Midway is located in Tattnall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
      • Estimated population in 2019: 657 people
    • Mendes
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Mendes is located in Tattnall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendes
      • Estimated population in 2019: 456 people
    • Glennville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
  • Toombs County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Excelsior, with the one closest to Excelsior listed first.
    • Ohoopee
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Ohoopee is located in Toombs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ohoopee
    • Lyons
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Santa Claus
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Santa Claus is located in Toombs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Claus
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
    • Vidalia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Charles
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Charles is located in Toombs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charles
    • Toombs Central
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Toombs Central is located in Toombs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toombs Central
      • Estimated population in 2019: 486 people
    • Rock Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Rock Springs is located in Toombs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Springs

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

Cemeteries Near Excelsior ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Excelsior.

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

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

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

  • Bowen - Dekle Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Everitt Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Easons Chapel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Dixon Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Holland Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Stripling Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Eason Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Sikes Chapel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Ephesus Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Buie Family Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Canoochee Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (310 more) ...
    • Barrough Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Union Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Emmaus Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)

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

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

  • Jimps
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Jimps is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimps
  • Manassas
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Enal ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Enal is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enal
  • Collins
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Emit
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Emit is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emit
  • Statesborough
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Statesborough is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesborough
    • Estimated population in 2019: 32,954 people
  • Reidsville
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Stillmore
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Clito
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Clito is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clito
  • Arcola
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Arcola is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
  • Blitch
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Blitch is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blitch
  • Birdford ‑ Historic
    (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Birdford is located in Tattnall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdford
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Pembroke
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Cameron
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Cameron is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
      • Estimated population in 2019: 5,012 people
    • Dover
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Excelsior ...

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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around Excelsior.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Excelsior, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Excelsior.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Excelsior:

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 drawn from Point A (ie- Excelsior) 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 Excelsior, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.