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 Happy Valley (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 Happy Valley. 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 Happy Valley ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Happy Valley: Happy Vly. (or less commonly used: Happy Vally. or Happy Vlly.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Happy Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Happy Valley.
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 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.
Happy Valley is located in McDuffie 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 McDuffie County: Columbia, Jefferson, Lincoln, Richmond, Warren & Wilkes.
Below are the counties that are near Happy Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Happy Valley:
- McDuffie County (The home county of Happy Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Megahee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Megahee is located in McDuffie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Megahee
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,031 people
- Boneville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Dearing
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Thomson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Hamilton Crossroads
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Hamilton Crossroads is located in McDuffie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,117 people
- Columbia Mine ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Columbia Mine is located in McDuffie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia Mine
- Estimated population in 2019: 195,769 people
- Burke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Keysville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brushy Creek ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Brushy Creek is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek
- Saint Clair
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Clair is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
- Torbit Station ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Torbit Station is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torbit Station
- Torbit Station has also been known as:
- Torbit
- Gough
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Vidette
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Vidette is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vidette
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Drone
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Drone is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drone
- Population from the 2010 Census: 14,568 people
- Rosier
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rosier is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosier
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Sawdust
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sawdust is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawdust
- Harlem
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Appling
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Maddox
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Maddox is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maddox
- Forrest ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Forrest is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forrest
- Grovetown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Fort Gordon
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Kiokee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kiokee is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiokee
- Arrow Head
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Arrow Head is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrow Head
- Evans
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lamkin
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lamkin is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamkin
- Lulaville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lulaville is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lulaville
- Estimated population in 2019: 2,961 people
- Martinez
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Glascock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Gibson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Edge Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Edge Hill is located in Glascock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edge Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Springfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Springfield is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Sparta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Stapleton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Wrens
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Avera
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Wrens Station
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Wrens Station is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrens Station
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,939 people
- Matthews
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Omaha Springs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Omaha Springs is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha Springs
- Noah
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Noah is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noah
- Noah has also been known as:
- Noah Station
- Zebina
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Zebina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zebina
- Stapletons Crossroads
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Stapletons Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stapletons Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 393 people
- Louisville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Loce
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Loce is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loce
- Lincolnton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Richmond County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Blythe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Belair
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Belair is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belair
- Hephzibah
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Barton Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Barton Village is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton Village
- De Bruce
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- De Bruce is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Bruce
- Estimated population in 2019: 25,696 people
- Fleming Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Fleming Heights is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming Heights
- Estimated population in 2019: 717 people
- Pepperidge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Pepperidge is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepperidge
- Richmond Hills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Richmond Hills is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Hills
- Estimated population in 2019: 13,839 people
- Forest Hills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Gracewood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Waverly
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Waverly is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Fairvale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Fairvale is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairvale
- Population from the 2010 Census: 6,769 people
- Bonair
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bonair is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonair
- Population from the 2010 Census: 3,135 people
- Taliaferro County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Raytown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Raytown is located in Taliaferro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raytown
- Sharon
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Crawfordville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Mesena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Warrenton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Camak
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Norwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cadley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cadley is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadley
- Estimated population in 2019: 540 people
- Jewell
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Barnett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Barnett is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Warthen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Davisboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Wilkes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Lundberg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lundberg is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lundberg
- Estimated population in 2019: 831 people
- Washington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Aiken County (SC)
- North Augusta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Edgefield County (SC)
- Lenoir ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lenoir is located in Edgefield County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenoir
- McCormick County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Clarks Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Modoc
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Happy Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Happy Valley.
Cemeteries Near Happy Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Happy Valley.
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 Happy Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Happy Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Hughes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jones Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Barksdale - Story - Bradshaw Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Mt. Aldred Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Williams Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Phillips Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Adkins Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Smith Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- McLain Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Poplar Head Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Ft. Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Huff Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (531 more) ...
- Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Alleluia Community Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleluia Community Cemetery
- The Alleluia Community Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hallelujah Community Cemetery
- Paul Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<2>
While we didn't find Happy Valley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Happy Valley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Boneville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bastonville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bastonville is located in Glascock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bastonville
- Dearing
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Thomson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Avondale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Avondale is located in McDuffie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Sawdust
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sawdust is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawdust
- Harlem
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Mesena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Stapleton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Gibson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wrens
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Warrenton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Avera
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Berzelia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Berzelia is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berzelia
- Camak
(12 miles [19.3 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 Happy Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Happy Valley.
Newspapers Published in Happy Valley ...
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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Happy Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Happy Valley, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Happy Valley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Happy Valley:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to McDuffie County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Burke County
- Columbia County
- Glascock County
- Hancock County
- Jefferson County
- Lincoln County
- Richmond County
- Taliaferro County
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Wilkes County
- Aiken County
- Edgefield County
- McCormick 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> | 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 Happy Valley, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Happy Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |