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 Lake Forest (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 Lake Forest. 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 Lake Forest ...
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 Lake Forest: Lk. Forest
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Lake Forest. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Lake Forest.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Lake Forest is located in Gwinnett 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 Gwinnett County: Barrow, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Hall, Rockdale & Walton.
Below are the counties that are near Lake Forest. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lake Forest:
- Gwinnett County (The home county of Lake Forest)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Buford
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rest Haven
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Rest Haven is located in Gwinnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rest Haven
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Sugar Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Suwanee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Oak Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Oak Village is located in Gwinnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Village
- Friendly Village of Crooked Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Duluth
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lawrenceville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dacula
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Regency Woods
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Regency Woods is located in Gwinnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Regency Woods
- Estimated population in 2019: 189 people
- Robin Ridge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Robin Ridge is located in Gwinnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robin Ridge
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,170 people
- Berkeley Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Banks County
- Maysville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Barrow County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Auburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Carl
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Carl is located in Barrow County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
- Population from the 2020 Census: 245 people
- Winder
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Russell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Russell is located in Barrow County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Bethlehem
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Statham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Free Home
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Free Home is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Free Home
- Ophir
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Ophir is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophir
- Orange
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Orange is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
- White City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- White City is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Hardman Place
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hardman Place is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardman Place
- Population from the 2010 Census: 3,930 people
- Harmony
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Harmony is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- Hickory Flat
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Hickory Flat is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Flat
- Ball Ground
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Buffington
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Buffington is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffington
- Colemans Landing
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Colemans Landing is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colemans Landing
- Holly Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Canton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Cobb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Sturbridge Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Sturbridge Village is located in Cobb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
- Chattahoochee Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Chattahoochee Heights is located in Cobb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattahoochee Heights
- Estimated population in 2018: 3,207 people
- Mount Bethel
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Bethel is located in Cobb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Bethel
- Holly Oaks
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Holly Oaks is located in Cobb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Oaks
- Estimated population in 2019: 15,442 people
- Noonday
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Noonday is located in Cobb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noonday
- Estimated population in 2019: 16,592 people
- Cobb Place Manor
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cobb Place Manor is located in Cobb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb Place Manor
- Estimated population in 2019: 357 people
- Dawson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Lumpkin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Lumpkin is located in Dawson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumpkin
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,266 people
- Barrettsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Barrettsville is located in Dawson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrettsville
- Dawsonville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Peachtree
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Peachtree is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peachtree
- Doraville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dunwoody West
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dunwoody West is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunwoody West
- Estimated population in 2015: 48,733 people
- Dunwoody
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mountain Woods
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mountain Woods is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Woods
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,265 people
- Chamblee
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Northwoods
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Northwoods is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwoods
- Tucker
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Stone Mountain
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bermuda
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bermuda is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bermuda
- Montreal
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Montreal is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montreal
- Estimated population in 2019: 212 people
- Brookhaven
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brookhaven is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookhaven
- Forsyth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Cumming
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Chestatee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Chestatee is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestatee
- Silver City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Silver City is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Ocee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ocee is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocee
- Johns Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Preston Ridge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Preston Ridge is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston Ridge
- Lake Union Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Lake Union Hill is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Union Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 4,839 people
- Milton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Alpharetta
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fields Crossroads
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fields Crossroads is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fields Crossroads
- Roswell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Litchfield Hundred
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Litchfield Hundred is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield Hundred
- Population from the 2010 Census: 15,491 people
- Mountain Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Mountain Park is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 576 people
- Sandy Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Montwicke
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Montwicke is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montwicke
- Population from the 2010 Census: 886 people
- Hall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Gay Lan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Gay Lan is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay Lan
- Estimated population in 2019: 81 people
- Gaines Ferry
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gaines Ferry is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaines Ferry
- Woodbridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Woodbridge is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbridge
- Estimated population in 2019: 902 people
- Flowery Branch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Absalom ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Absalom is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Absalom
- Blackshear Place
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Blackshear Place is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackshear Place
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,527 people
- Oakwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chestnut Mountain
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Summer Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Summer Point is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer Point
- Estimated population in 2019: 158 people
- Westside
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Westside is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westside
- Candler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Candler is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Candler
- Gainesville Mills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gainesville Mills is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville Mills
- Estimated population in 2019: 43,232 people
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Braselton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Hoschton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Talmo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Pendergrass
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Holly Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Holly Springs is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Dry Pond
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Dry Pond is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Pond
- Estimated population in 2019: 15,881 people
- Jefferson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Arcade
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Arcade is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcade
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,040 people
- Lumpkin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- New Bridge ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- New Bridge is located in Lumpkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Bridge
- Auraria ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Auraria is located in Lumpkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auraria
- Dahlonega
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Garland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Garland is located in Lumpkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Grace ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Grace is located in Lumpkin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grace
- Pickens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Big Canoe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Nelson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Marble Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Tate
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cagle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cagle is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cagle
- Rockdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Zingara
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Zingara is located in Rockdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zingara
- Lakeview Estates
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lakeview Estates is located in Rockdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview Estates
- Walton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Split Silk
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Split Silk is located in Walton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Split Silk
- Nicholasville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Nicholasville is located in Walton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholasville
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,333 people
- Between
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Between is located in Walton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Between
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Campton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Campton is located in Walton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campton
- Youth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Youth is located in Walton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youth
- Walnut Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Walnut Grove is located in Walton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,367 people
- Monroe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lake Forest, see our County-by-County Page for Lake Forest.
Cemeteries Near Lake Forest ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lake Forest.
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 Lake Forest - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lake Forest covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Smith Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Broadlawn Memorial Gardens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- New Bethany Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Sudderth Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wheeler Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Alexander - Black Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Salem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Beaver Run Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Run Church Cemetery
- The Beaver Run Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Beaver Run Cemetery
- Faith Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Chattahoochee Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (443 more) ...
- Haw Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Connolly Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Douglass Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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 Lake Forest in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Lake Forest.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
- Buford
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Flowery Branch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Suwanee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Oscarville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oscarville is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oscarville
- Cumming
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Big Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Big Creek is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Coal Mountain
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Coal Mountain is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Mountain
- Absalom ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Absalom is located in Hall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Absalom
- Chestatee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Chestatee is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestatee
- Ocee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ocee is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocee
- Grapevine ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Grapevine is located in Gwinnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grapevine
- Chestnut Mountain
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Drew
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Drew is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drew
- Warsaw
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Warsaw is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warsaw
- Duluth
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lake Forest. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lake Forest.
Newspapers Published in Lake Forest ...
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 14 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lake Forest.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lake Forest, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lake Forest.
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 Lake Forest:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Gwinnett County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Banks County
- Barrow County
- Cherokee County
- Cobb County
- Dawson County
- DeKalb County
- Forsyth County
- Fulton County
- Hall County
- Jackson County
- Lumpkin County
- Pickens County
- Rockdale County
- Walton 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 Lake Forest, 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 from Point A (ie- Lake Forest) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |