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 Lela (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 Lela. 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 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.
Lela is located in Seminole 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 Seminole County: Houston (AL), Jackson (FL), Decatur, Early & Miller.
Below are the counties that are near Lela. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lela:
- Seminole County (The home county of Lela)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lela, with the one closest to Lela listed first.
- Iron City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Donalsonville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Steam Mill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Steam Mill is located in Seminole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steam Mill
- Reynoldsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Reynoldsville is located in Seminole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsville
- Estimated population in 2019: 960 people
- Butlers Ferry
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Butlers Ferry is located in Seminole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butlers Ferry
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,759 people
- Baker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lela, with the one closest to Lela listed first.
- Lamar ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lamar is located in Baker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
- Anna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Anna is located in Baker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anna
- Mimsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mimsville is located in Baker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mimsville
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lela, with the one closest to Lela listed first.
- Brinson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bainbridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Recovery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Recovery is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Recovery
- Population from the 2010 Census: 33,015 people
- Faceville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Faceville is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faceville
- Fowlstown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Climax
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Vada
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Vada is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vada
- Estimated population in 2019: 56,457 people
- Attapulgus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Early County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lela, with the one closest to Lela listed first.
- Jakin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Springfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Springfield is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,084 people
- Cedar Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Centerville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Centerville is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Hentown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hentown is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hentown
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,944 people
- Sawhatchee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sawhatchee is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawhatchee
- Damascus
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Douglass Crossroads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Douglass Crossroads is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglass Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 33,992 people
- Rock Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Hill is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 248 people
- Blakely
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Douglasville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Douglasville is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglasville
- Estimated population in 2019: 11,695 people
- Bancroft
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bancroft is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Miller County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lela, with the one closest to Lela listed first.
- Floydtown ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Floydtown is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floydtown
- Mayhaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Mayhaw is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayhaw
- Boykin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Boykin is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
- Colquitt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Houston County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lela, with the one closest to Lela listed first.
- Gordon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gordon is located in Houston County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 328 people
- Columbia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ashford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cottonwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Avon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Avon is located in Houston County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
- Barber
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Barber is located in Houston County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barber
- Williams
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Williams is located in Houston County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams
- Cowarts
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hodgesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Hodgesville is located in Houston County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodgesville
- Calhoun County (FL)
- Ocheesee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Ocheesee is located in Calhoun County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheesee
- Gadsden County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lela, with the one closest to Lela listed first.
- Chattahoochee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- River Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- River Junction is located in Gadsden County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Junction
- Mount Pleasant
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sycamore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sycamore is located in Gadsden County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Gretna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Greensboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Douglas City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Douglas City is located in Gadsden County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas City
- Jackson County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lela, with the one closest to Lela listed first.
- Parramore ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Parramore is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parramore
- Butler ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Butler is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
- Two Egg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Two Egg is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Two Egg
- Bascom
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Malone
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Sneads
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Greenwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Inwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Inwood is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inwood
- Grand Ridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cypress
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Marianna
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lela, see our County-by-County Page for Lela.
Cemeteries Near Lela ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lela.
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 Lela - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lela covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lela, with the one closest to Lela listed first.
- Olive Grove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Trawick Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Williams Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Danley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hammock Springs FWB Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Corinth Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brunson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Live Oak (AME) Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- New Enterprise Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Friendship Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Friendship Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hebrew Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (180 more) ...
- Ash Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Miller Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Williams Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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 Lela in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Lela.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lela, with the one closest to Lela listed first.
- Spooner ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Spooner is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spooner
- Brinson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Horns Cross Road ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Horns Cross Road is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horns Cross Road
- Twilight ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Twilight is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilight
- Jakin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Eldorendo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Eldorendo is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorendo
- Mayhaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Mayhaw is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayhaw
- Bascom
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Colquitt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Recovery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Recovery is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Recovery
- Population from the 2010 Census: 33,015 people
- Bainbridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Cedar Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Greenwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sneads
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Chattahoochee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lela. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lela.
Newspapers Published in Lela ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lela.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lela, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lela.
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 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 Lela:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Seminole County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Baker County
- Decatur County
- Early County
- Miller County
- Houston County
- Calhoun County
- Gadsden County
- Jackson 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 Lela, 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- Lela) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |