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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 Portal (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 Portal. 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 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 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.

Portal is located in Bulloch 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 Bulloch County: Bryan, Candler, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Jenkins & Screven.

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

  • Bulloch County     (The home county of Portal)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Portal, with the one closest to Portal listed first.
    • Kites Spur ‑ Historic
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Kites Spur is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kites Spur
      • Estimated population in 2019: 227 people
    • Aaron
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Aaron is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aaron
    • Clito
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Clito is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clito
    • Statesboro
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Register
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Eagle Court
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Eagle Court is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Court
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 164 people
    • Olde Towne
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Olde Towne is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olde Towne
    • New Hope
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • New Hope is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
    • Brooklet
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Leefield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Leefield is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leefield
    • Statesborough
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Statesborough is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesborough
      • Estimated population in 2019: 32,954 people
    • Stilson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Stilson is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stilson
  • Burke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Portal, with the one closest to Portal listed first.
    • Midville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Munnerlyn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Munnerlyn is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munnerlyn
    • Number Ten ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Number Ten is located in Burke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Number Ten
      • Estimated population in 2019: 145 people
  • Candler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Portal, with the one closest to Portal listed first.
    • Pulaski
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Metter
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Canoe
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Canoe is located in Candler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canoe
      • Estimated population in 2019: 785 people
  • Effingham County
    • Egypt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Egypt is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
  • Emanuel County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Portal, with the one closest to Portal listed first.
    • Garfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Twin City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Stillmore
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Swainsboro
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Blun
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Blun is located in Emanuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blun
    • Summertown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Nunez
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Oak Park
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Colemans Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Colemans Lake is located in Emanuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colemans Lake
    • Blundale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Blundale is located in Emanuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blundale
  • Evans County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Portal, with the one closest to Portal listed first.
    • Claxton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Bellville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Hagan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Daisy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Jenkins County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Portal, with the one closest to Portal listed first.
    • Scarboro
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Scarboro is located in Jenkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scarboro
    • Thrift
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Thrift is located in Jenkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thrift
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,623 people
    • Emmalane
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Emmalane is located in Jenkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmalane
    • Millen
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Perkins
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
  • Screven County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Portal, with the one closest to Portal listed first.
    • Rocky Ford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Ogeechee ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ogeechee is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogeechee
      • Former name for Ogeechee:
      • Oguchee
    • Dover
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Cooperville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Cooperville is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
    • Cameron
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Cameron is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
      • Estimated population in 2019: 5,012 people
    • Zeigler
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Zeigler is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
    • Captolo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Captolo is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captolo
    • Sylvania
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Oliver
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Newington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Hilltonia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hilltonia is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltonia
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 262 people
    • Hiltonia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Tattnall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Portal, with the one closest to Portal listed first.
    • Cobbtown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Cobbtown is located in Tattnall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbtown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 342 people
      • Former name for Cobbtown:
      • Cobb Town
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cobbtown <1>
    • Manassas
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Collins
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Toombs County
    • Ohoopee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ohoopee is located in Toombs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ohoopee

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

Cemeteries Near Portal ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Portal.

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

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

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

  • Portal Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Scarboro Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Mincy Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Franklin Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Nichols Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Banks Creek Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Bland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Hendrix & Welsh Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Rehovia Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Munlin Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Poplar Springs Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (301 more) ...
    • Friendship Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Johnson Grove Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Brannen Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)

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.<2>

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

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

  • Blitch
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Blitch is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blitch
  • Clito
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Clito is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clito
  • Rocky Ford
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Jimps
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jimps is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimps
  • Ogeechee ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ogeechee is located in Screven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogeechee
    • Former name for Ogeechee:
    • Oguchee
  • Dover
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Garfield
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Cameron
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Cameron is located in Screven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
    • Estimated population in 2019: 5,012 people
  • Stillmore
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
  • Emit
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Emit is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emit
  • Woodcliff
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Woodcliff is located in Screven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodcliff
  • Canoochee
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Canoochee is located in Emanuel County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canoochee
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Enal ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Enal is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enal
    • Goloid
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Goloid is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goloid
    • Zeigler
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Zeigler is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler

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

Newspapers Published in Portal ...

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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Portal.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Portal, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Portal.

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 websites either 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 Portal:

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>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 Portal, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Portal) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.