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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 Riverdale (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 Riverdale. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Riverdale is located in Dougherty 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 Dougherty County: Baker, Calhoun, Lee, Mitchell, Terrell & Worth.

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

  • Dougherty County     (The home county of Riverdale)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
    • Colonial Place
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Colonial Place is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Place
    • Putney
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Albany
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Albany is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 70,839 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Albany <1>
    • Elon Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Elon Village is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elon Village
    • Eleanor Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Eleanor Village is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor Village
    • Tompkins Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Tompkins Village is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkins Village
    • West Town
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • West Town is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Town
    • Pecan City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Pecan City is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecan City
    • Colonial Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Colonial Village is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • East Towne
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • East Towne is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Towne
    • Eugemar
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Eugemar is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eugemar
      • Estimated population in 2019: 4,367 people
    • Hinds
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Hinds is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinds
      • Estimated population in 2019: 33,273 people
  • Baker County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
    • Newton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Hawkinstown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Hawkinstown is located in Baker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkinstown
      • Estimated population in 2019: 5,270 people
    • Milford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Milford is located in Baker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
    • Anna
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Anna is located in Baker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anna
    • Mimsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Mimsville is located in Baker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mimsville
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
    • Holt
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Holt is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
    • Leary
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Morgan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Williamsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Williamsburg is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
  • Colquitt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
    • Doerun
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Minnesota
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Minnesota is located in Colquitt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesota
    • Hartsfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Funston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
    • Palmyra
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Palmyra is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
    • Leesburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Philema
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Philema is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philema
    • Chokee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Chokee is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chokee
    • Smithville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Mitchell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
    • De Witt
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • De Witt is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 154 people
    • Baconton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Flint
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Flint is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
    • Greenough
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Greenough is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenough
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,304 people
    • Camilla
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Pebble City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Pebble City is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble City
    • Sale City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Cotton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Greenwood ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Greenwood is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
    • Pelham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
  • Randolph County
    • Five Points
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Five Points is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
  • Sumter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
    • De Soto
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Leslie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Sumter
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumter
  • Terrell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
    • Sasser
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Clarks Mill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Clarks Mill is located in Terrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Mill
      • Estimated population in 2019: 12,637 people
    • Herod
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Herod is located in Terrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herod
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 3,384 people
    • Dawson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Bronwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Olivers Mill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Olivers Mill is located in Terrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivers Mill
      • Estimated population in 2019: 230 people
    • Yeomans
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Yeomans is located in Terrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeomans
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 507 people
  • Thomas County
    • Meigs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Tift County
    • Ty Ty
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Turner County
    • Hobby
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Hobby is located in Turner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobby
      • Estimated population in 2019: 536 people
  • Worth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
    • East Dougherty
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • East Dougherty is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Dougherty
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,398 people
    • Bridgeboro
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Alfords
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Alfords is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfords
    • Liberty Hill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Liberty Hill is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
    • Sylvester
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Anderson City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Anderson City is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson City
    • Poulan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Oakfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Sumner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Cuffietown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cuffietown is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuffietown
      • Estimated population in 2019: 186 people
    • Warwick
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Riverdale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riverdale.

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

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

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

  • Mt. Bethel Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Oakview Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Floral Memory Gardens
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Carver Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Blue Springs Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Davis Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Crown Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Clifton Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Hard Up Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Palmyra Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (169 more) ...
    • Whitehill Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Hill Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Thundering Springs Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)

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

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

  • Albany
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Albany is located in Dougherty County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 70,839 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Albany <1>
  • De Witt
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • De Witt is located in Mitchell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
    • Population from the 2010 Census: 154 people
  • Palmyra
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Palmyra is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
  • Baconton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Acree
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Acree is located in Dougherty County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acree
  • Ruark ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Ruark is located in Dougherty County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruark
  • Flint
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Flint is located in Mitchell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
  • Armena
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Armena is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armena
  • Parkerville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Parkerville is located in Worth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkerville
  • Willingham ‑ Historic
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Willingham is located in Worth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willingham
  • Leesburg
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
  • Newton
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Isabella
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Isabella is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isabella
    • Sasser
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Camilla
      (19 miles [30.6 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 Riverdale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Riverdale.

Newspapers Published in Riverdale ...

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 20 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riverdale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riverdale, there are papers which were published within 4 miles [6.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Riverdale.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Riverdale:

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 Riverdale, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Riverdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.