RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Georgia >> Bleckley County >> McGriff >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about McGriff. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added McGriff to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with McGriff, please Contact Us.

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 McGriff (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 McGriff. 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 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.

Although our information shows that the community of McGriff is historic, it would have been located within present day Bleckley 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 Bleckley County: Dodge, Houston, Laurens, Pulaski, Twiggs & Wilkinson.

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

  • Bleckley County     (The home county of McGriff)
    • The following are listed by their distance from McGriff, with the one closest to McGriff listed first.
    • Royal
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Royal is located in Bleckley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,571 people
    • Cochran
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Allentown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Bibb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McGriff, with the one closest to McGriff listed first.
    • Walden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Walden is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walden
      • Estimated population in 2019: 964 people
    • Rutland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Rutland is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutland
      • Estimated population in 2019: 842 people
    • Wheeler Heights
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Wheeler Heights is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Heights
    • East Macon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • East Macon is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Macon
    • Vinson Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Vinson Village is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinson Village
    • Cross Keys
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Cross Keys is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
    • Mogul
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Mogul is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mogul
      • Estimated population in 2019: 400 people
    • Bloomfield Park
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Bloomfield Park is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield Park
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,686 people
  • Dodge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McGriff, with the one closest to McGriff listed first.
    • Empire
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Empire is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
    • Yonkers
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Yonkers is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yonkers
    • Chester
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Bryant
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Bryant is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
    • Plainfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Eastman
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Chauncey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Dooly County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McGriff, with the one closest to McGriff listed first.
    • Unadilla
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Pinehurst
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Houston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McGriff, with the one closest to McGriff listed first.
    • Kathleen
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Bonaire
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Stathams Landing
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Stathams Landing is located in Houston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stathams Landing
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,839 people
    • Woodard Estates
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodard Estates is located in Houston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodard Estates
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,352 people
    • Clinchfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Warner Robins
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Elko
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Perry
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Perry is located in Houston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,845 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Perry <2>
    • Elberta
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Elberta is located in Houston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elberta
      • Estimated population in 2019: 4,329 people
    • Centerville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Jones County
    • Griswoldville ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Griswoldville is located in Jones County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswoldville
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McGriff, with the one closest to McGriff listed first.
    • Montrose
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Dexter
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Dudley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Cadwell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Rentz
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Dublin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Macon County
    • Marshallville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Peach County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McGriff, with the one closest to McGriff listed first.
    • Lakeview
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lakeview is located in Peach County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
    • Miami Valley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Miami Valley is located in Peach County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miami Valley
    • Byron
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Echeconnee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Echeconnee is located in Peach County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echeconnee
    • Fort Valley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Taylors Mill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Taylors Mill is located in Peach County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylors Mill
      • Estimated population in 2019: 224 people
    • Washington Square
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Washington Square is located in Peach County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Square
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,963 people
  • Pulaski County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McGriff, with the one closest to McGriff listed first.
    • Hawkinsville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Finleyson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Finleyson is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finleyson
  • Twiggs County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McGriff, with the one closest to McGriff listed first.
    • Marion
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Marion is located in Twiggs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
    • Danville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Jeffersonville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Huber
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Huber is located in Twiggs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huber
    • Dry Branch
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
  • Wilcox County
    • Pineview
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
  • Wilkinson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McGriff, with the one closest to McGriff listed first.
    • Irwinton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Dedrich
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Dedrich is located in Wilkinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dedrich
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 2,146 people

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

Cemeteries Near McGriff ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of McGriff.

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

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

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

  • Walker Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • James Dykes Memorial Park
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Simpson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Cedar Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Pulaski - Bleckley Memorial Gardens
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Hart Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Lizzy Harold Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Burns Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Floyd Family Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • ElSharath MB Church Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for ElSharath MB Church Cemetery
    • The ElSharath MB Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • El Sharath MB Church Cemetery
  • Walters Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (280 more) ...
    • Powers Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Limestone Memorial Gardens
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Jone's Family Farm Cemetery
      • The Jone's Family Farm Cemetery is located on private property - be sure to secure permission before visiting.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jone's Family Farm Cemetery

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.

While we didn't find McGriff in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of McGriff.

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

  • Westlake
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Westlake is located in Twiggs County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake
  • Empire
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Empire is located in Dodge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
  • Hawkinsville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Carne ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Carne is located in Dodge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carne
  • Hayneville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Hayneville is located in Houston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayneville
  • Dubois
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Dubois is located in Dodge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dubois
  • Kathleen
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Gresston
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Gresston is located in Dodge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresston
  • Bonaire
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Grovania
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Grovania is located in Houston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grovania
  • Chester
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Allentown
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Dempsey
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Dempsey is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dempsey
    • Heard
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Heard is located in Houston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heard
    • Elko
      (18 miles [29 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 McGriff. See our List of 1890's Communities around McGriff.

Newspapers Published in McGriff ...

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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around McGriff.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of McGriff, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for McGriff.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 McGriff:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 McGriff, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- McGriff) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.