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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 Lithonia (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 Lithonia. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.

Lithonia is located in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County: Clayton, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry & Rockdale.

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

  • DeKalb County     (The home county of Lithonia)
  • Barrow County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lithonia, with the one closest to Lithonia listed first.
    • Auburn
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Carl
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Carl is located in Barrow County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 245 people
    • Bethlehem
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Russell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Russell is located in Barrow County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
    • Winder
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Butts County
  • Clayton County
  • Cobb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lithonia, with the one closest to Lithonia listed first.
    • Vinings
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Chattahoochee Heights
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Chattahoochee Heights is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattahoochee Heights
      • Estimated population in 2018: 3,207 people
    • Mount Bethel
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Brookside Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Brookside Village is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside Village
    • Nelsons Ferry
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Nelsons Ferry is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsons Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,377 people
    • Ivey Terrace
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Ivey Terrace is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivey Terrace
      • Estimated population in 2019: 914 people
    • Smyrna
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Gordon Woods
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Gordon Woods is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon Woods
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,857 people
    • Sturbridge Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Sturbridge Village is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
    • Knox Springs Estates
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Knox Springs Estates is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox Springs Estates
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 69 people
    • Fair Oaks
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Fair Oaks is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Oaks
    • Mableton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lithonia, with the one closest to Lithonia listed first.
    • Lafayette Estates
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Lafayette Estates is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Estates
      • Estimated population in 2019: 7,339 people
    • Blakely Woods
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Blakely Woods is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakely Woods
      • Estimated population in 2019: 4,571 people
    • Franklin Farms
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Franklin Farms is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Farms
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,192 people
    • Winterthur Woods
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Fayetteville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Harp
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Inman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Keyland Woods
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Keyland Woods is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyland Woods
      • Estimated population in 2019: 332 people
    • McIntosh Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • McIntosh Village is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntosh Village
    • Woolsey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Woolsey is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woolsey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
    • Woolsey Woods
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lithonia, with the one closest to Lithonia listed first.
    • Linwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Linwood is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
    • Thomasville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Thomasville is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomasville
      • Estimated population in 2019: 18,518 people
    • Blair Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Blair Village is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair Village
    • Cabbage Town
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Cabbage Town is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabbage Town
    • Doral Park
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Doral Park is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doral Park
      • Estimated population in 2019: 10,265 people
    • Atlanta
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Peoplestown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Brookwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Brookwood is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookwood
    • Hapeville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Plunket Town
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Plunket Town is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plunket Town
    • Sylvan Hills
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Sylvan Hills is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan Hills
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,463 people
    • Vine City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Vine City is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine City
  • Gwinnett County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lithonia, with the one closest to Lithonia listed first.
    • Norris Lake Shores
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Norris Lake Shores is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris Lake Shores
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 59 people
    • Centerville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Twin Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Twin Village is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Village
    • Mountain Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Mountain Park is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Park
    • Stonemont
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Stonemont is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonemont
      • Estimated population in 2019: 6,281 people
    • Snellville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lilburn
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Luxomni
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Luxomni is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luxomni
      • Estimated population in 2019: 514 people
    • Berkshire ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Berkshire is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkshire
      • Estimated population in 2019: 554 people
    • Bethesda
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Bethesda is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethesda
      • Estimated population in 2019: 725 people
    • Loganville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Danbury Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Danbury Village is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danbury Village
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lithonia, with the one closest to Lithonia listed first.
    • Whitehouse
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Whitehouse is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehouse
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 6,792 people
    • Highland Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Highland Village is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
    • Stockbridge North
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Stockbridge North is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockbridge North
      • Estimated population in 2019: 29,904 people
    • Stockbridge
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Tunis ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Tunis is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunis
      • Estimated population in 2019: 910 people
    • Oakwood Manor
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Oakwood Manor is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Manor
      • Estimated population in 2019: 4,156 people
    • McDonough
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Blacksville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Blacksville is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacksville
    • Hampton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Locust Grove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
  • Morgan County
    • Rutledge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Newton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lithonia, with the one closest to Lithonia listed first.
    • Salem Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Salem Village is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Village
    • Salem Branch
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Salem Branch is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Branch
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 310 people
    • Newton Woods
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Newton Woods is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Woods
      • Estimated population in 2019: 575 people
    • Essex Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Essex Village is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essex Village
    • Oxford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Porterdale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Covington
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • East Wood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • East Wood is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Wood
      • Estimated population in 2019: 6,725 people
    • Hub Junction
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Dixie Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Dixie Village is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie Village
    • Dixie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Mansfield Estates
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Mansfield Estates is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mansfield Estates
      • Estimated population in 2019: 442 people
  • Rockdale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lithonia, with the one closest to Lithonia listed first.
    • Lakeview Estates
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Lakeview Estates is located in Rockdale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview Estates
    • Conyers
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Milstead
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Milstead is located in Rockdale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milstead
      • Estimated population in 2018: 39,217 people
    • Zingara
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Spalding County
  • Walton County

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

Cemeteries Near Lithonia ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lithonia.

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

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

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

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Lithonia had a population of 1,182 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Lithonia had a population of 2,321 people.

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

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Lithonia ...

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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lithonia.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Lithonia. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Lithonia and those printed in the larger area surrounding Lithonia.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<3> of Lithonia.

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 helpful 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 Lithonia:

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>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 from Point A (ie- Lithonia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Lithonia, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.