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 Otisco (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 Otisco. 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 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.
Otisco is located in Decatur 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 Decatur County: Gadsden (FL), Baker, Grady, Miller, Mitchell & Seminole.
Below are the counties that are near Otisco. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Otisco:
- Decatur County (The home county of Otisco)
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisco, with the one closest to Otisco listed first.
- Climax
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fowlstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bainbridge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Attapulgus
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Faceville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Faceville is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faceville
- Vada
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Vada is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vada
- Estimated population in 2019: 56,457 people
- Recovery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Recovery is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Recovery
- Population from the 2010 Census: 33,015 people
- Brinson
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Baker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisco, with the one closest to Otisco listed first.
- Lamar ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lamar is located in Baker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
- Hawkinstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Hawkinstown is located in Baker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkinstown
- Estimated population in 2019: 5,270 people
- Mimsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Mimsville is located in Baker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mimsville
- Anna
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Anna is located in Baker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anna
- Grady County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisco, with the one closest to Otisco listed first.
- Whigham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Calvary
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Reno
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Reno is located in Grady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
- Estimated population in 2019: 285 people
- Good Hope ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Good Hope is located in Grady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
- Estimated population in 2019: 300 people
- Cairo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Midway
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Midway is located in Grady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Woodland
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Woodland is located in Grady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Estimated population in 2019: 353 people
- Spence
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Spence is located in Grady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spence
- Miller County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisco, with the one closest to Otisco listed first.
- Boykin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Boykin is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
- Floydtown ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Floydtown is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floydtown
- Colquitt
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisco, with the one closest to Otisco listed first.
- Greenwood ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Greenwood is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Pelham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Camilla
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Seminole County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisco, with the one closest to Otisco listed first.
- Reynoldsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Reynoldsville is located in Seminole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsville
- Estimated population in 2019: 960 people
- Iron City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Donalsonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Butlers Ferry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Butlers Ferry is located in Seminole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butlers Ferry
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,759 people
- Steam Mill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Steam Mill is located in Seminole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steam Mill
- Thomas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisco, with the one closest to Otisco listed first.
- Ochlocknee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hansell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hansell is located in Thomas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hansell
- Estimated population in 2019: 6,534 people
- Meigs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dewey City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Dewey City is located in Thomas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewey City
- Thomasville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Gadsden County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisco, with the one closest to Otisco listed first.
- Havana
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Quincy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Mount Pleasant
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Douglas City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Douglas City is located in Gadsden County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas City
- Gretna
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Midway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Chattahoochee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Greensboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- River Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- River Junction is located in Gadsden County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Junction
- Sycamore
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sycamore is located in Gadsden County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Jackson County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisco, with the one closest to Otisco listed first.
- Butler ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Butler is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
- Sneads
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Leon County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Otisco, with the one closest to Otisco listed first.
- Ocklockonee ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ocklockonee is located in Leon County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocklockonee
- Iamonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Iamonia is located in Leon County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iamonia
- Bradfordville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bradfordville is located in Leon County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfordville
- Tallahassee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Miccosukee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Otisco, see our County-by-County Page for Otisco.
Cemeteries Near Otisco ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Otisco.
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 Otisco - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Otisco covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Otisco, with the one closest to Otisco listed first.
- Samuel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Fleatown Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleatown Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Fleatown Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<2> to the northeast of Climax.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #33954 <3>
- Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lewis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Arline Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- New Fountainhead Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Conyers Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Magnolia Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Poplar Springs Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jonas Lobe Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (260 more) ...
- Johnson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Butler Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Thomas Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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>
While we didn't find Otisco in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Otisco.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Otisco, with the one closest to Otisco listed first.
- Climax
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fowlstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Attapulgus
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Bainbridge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Faceville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Faceville is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faceville
- Concord
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Concord is located in Gadsden County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Ocklockonee ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ocklockonee is located in Leon County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocklockonee
- Recovery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Recovery is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Recovery
- Population from the 2010 Census: 33,015 people
- Eldorendo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Eldorendo is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorendo
- Brinson
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Pleasant
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Quincy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Scotland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Scotland is located in Gadsden County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotland
- Iamonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Iamonia is located in Leon County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iamonia
- Twilight ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Twilight is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilight
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Otisco. See our List of 1890's Communities around Otisco.
Newspapers Published in Otisco ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Otisco.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Otisco, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Otisco.
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 Otisco:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Decatur County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Baker County
- Grady County
- Miller County
- Mitchell County
- Seminole County
- Thomas County
- Gadsden County
- Jackson County
- Leon 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> | 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 from Point A (ie- Otisco) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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> | 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 Otisco, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |