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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 Pennington (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 Pennington. 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 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.

Pennington is located in Sumter 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 Sumter County: Crisp, Dooly, Lee, Macon, Marion, Schley, Terrell & Webster.

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

  • Sumter County     (The home county of Pennington)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pennington, with the one closest to Pennington listed first.
    • Andersonville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Andersonville is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
      • Former name for Andersonville:
      • Anderson
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Andersonville <1>
    • Danville ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Danville is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
      • Estimated population in 2019: 212 people
    • Americus
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Shiloh
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Shiloh is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • De Soto
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Leslie
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Cobb
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Thalean
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Thalean is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thalean
    • Sumter
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumter
    • Concord
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Concord is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Plains
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Crisp County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pennington, with the one closest to Pennington listed first.
    • Cordele
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Milldale ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Milldale is located in Crisp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milldale
      • Estimated population in 2019: 18,704 people
    • Lamb Town
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Lamb Town is located in Crisp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamb Town
    • McKenzie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • McKenzie is located in Crisp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKenzie
    • Arabi
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Dooly County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pennington, with the one closest to Pennington listed first.
    • Byromville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Dooling
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Dooling is located in Dooly County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooling
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
    • Lilly
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Vienna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Pinehurst
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Unadilla
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
  • Houston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pennington, with the one closest to Pennington listed first.
    • Elko
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Perry
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • 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 <1>
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pennington, with the one closest to Pennington listed first.
    • Chokee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Chokee is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chokee
    • Smithville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Philema
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Philema is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philema
    • Leesburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pennington, with the one closest to Pennington listed first.
    • Oglethorpe
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Montezuma
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Ideal
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Marshallville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pennington, with the one closest to Pennington listed first.
    • Putnam
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Putnam is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 2,898 people
    • Draneville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Draneville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draneville
    • Tazewell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Tazewell is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
    • Buena Vista
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Peach County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pennington, with the one closest to Pennington listed first.
    • Washington Square
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Washington Square is located in Peach County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Square
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,963 people
    • Fort Valley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Schley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pennington, with the one closest to Pennington listed first.
    • La Crosse
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • La Crosse is located in Schley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Crosse
    • Ellaville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Concord
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Concord is located in Schley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
  • Taylor County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pennington, with the one closest to Pennington listed first.
    • Rupert
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Reynolds
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Butler
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Mauk
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Terrell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pennington, with the one closest to Pennington listed first.
    • Olivers Mill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Olivers Mill is located in Terrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivers Mill
      • Estimated population in 2019: 230 people
    • Bronwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Parrott
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Webster County
  • Worth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pennington, with the one closest to Pennington listed first.
    • Warwick
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Oakfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Pennington ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pennington.

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

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

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

  • St. James - Pennington Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Hodges Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Kelley Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Norris Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Andersonville National Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Tolen Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Andersonville Baptist Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Freeman Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Mt. Olive Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (191 more) ...
    • Daniel Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bradley Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bay Point Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)

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 Pennington in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Pennington.

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

  • Andersonville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Andersonville is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andersonville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Former name for Andersonville:
    • Anderson
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Andersonville <1>
  • Lamar
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Lamar is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
  • Drayton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Drayton is located in Dooly County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drayton
  • Fountainville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Fountainville is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountainville
  • Oglethorpe
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • La Crosse
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • La Crosse is located in Schley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Crosse
  • Americus
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Gatewood
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Gatewood is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gatewood
  • Byromville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Dooling
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Dooling is located in Dooly County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooling
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
  • Huntington
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Huntington is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
  • Parkers ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Parkers is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkers
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • New Point
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • New Point is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Point
    • Maddox
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Maddox is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maddox
    • Leslie
      (14 miles [22.5 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 Pennington. See our List of 1890's Communities around Pennington.

Newspapers Published in Pennington ...

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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pennington.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pennington, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Pennington.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Pennington:

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 Pennington, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Pennington) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.