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 Salem (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 Salem. 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.
Salem is located in Richmond 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 Richmond County: Burke, Columbia, Jefferson, McDuffie, Aiken (SC) & Edgefield (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Salem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Salem:
- Richmond County (The home county of Salem)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Pepperidge
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Pepperidge is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepperidge
- Richmond Hills
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Richmond Hills is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Hills
- Estimated population in 2019: 13,839 people
- Gracewood
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Fairvale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Fairvale is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairvale
- Population from the 2010 Census: 6,769 people
- Fleming Heights
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Fleming Heights is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming Heights
- Estimated population in 2019: 717 people
- De Bruce
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- De Bruce is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Bruce
- Estimated population in 2019: 25,696 people
- Southgate Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Southgate Village is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southgate Village
- Barton Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Barton Village is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton Village
- Forest Hills
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Augusta
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Belair
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Belair is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belair
- Hephzibah
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Burke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Keysville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Brushy Creek ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brushy Creek is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek
- Saint Clair
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Clair is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
- Torbit Station ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Torbit Station is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torbit Station
- Torbit Station has also been known as:
- Torbit
- Waynesboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Gough
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Drone
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Drone is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drone
- Population from the 2010 Census: 14,568 people
- Thomas Station
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Thomas Station is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Station
- Estimated population in 2019: 8,752 people
- Vidette
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Vidette is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vidette
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Munnerlyn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Munnerlyn is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munnerlyn
- Rosier
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Rosier is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosier
- Girard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Fort Gordon
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Arrow Head
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Arrow Head is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrow Head
- Lamkin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Lamkin is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamkin
- Lulaville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Lulaville is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lulaville
- Estimated population in 2019: 2,961 people
- Martinez
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Memory Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Memory Park is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memory Park
- Population from the 2010 Census: 122 people
- Forrest ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Forrest is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forrest
- Grovetown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Evans
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Snead
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Snead is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snead
- Estimated population in 2019: 20,077 people
- Harlem
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Maddox
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Maddox is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maddox
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Noah
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Noah is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noah
- Noah has also been known as:
- Noah Station
- Matthews
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wrens
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Zebina
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Zebina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zebina
- Wrens Station
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wrens Station is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrens Station
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,939 people
- Stapleton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Avera
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- McDuffie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Dearing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Megahee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Megahee is located in McDuffie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Megahee
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,031 people
- Boneville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Thomson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Hamilton Crossroads
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hamilton Crossroads is located in McDuffie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,117 people
- Aiken County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Savanna Town ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Savanna Town is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savanna Town
- North Augusta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Beech Island
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Browns Hill ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Browns Hill is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Hill
- Belvedere
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Belvedere is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvedere
- Clearwater
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kathwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Kathwood is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kathwood
- Bath
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Burnettown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Burnettown is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnettown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,769 people
- Langley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Gloverville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Edgefield County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Lenoir ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Lenoir is located in Edgefield County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenoir
- Murphys Estates
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Murphys Estates is located in Edgefield County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphys Estates
- Colliers
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Colliers is located in Edgefield County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colliers
- Trenton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Edgefield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- McCormick County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Clarks Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Modoc
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Parksville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Salem, see our County-by-County Page for Salem.
Cemeteries Near Salem ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Salem.
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 Salem - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Salem covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Brandon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Duval Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Schley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Morgan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Gracewood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Clanton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Carmichael Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Chavous Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Burch Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Williams Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Rober Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (333 more) ...
- Steadman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Tinley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Burton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
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 Salem in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Salem.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Gracewood
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Adventure ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Adventure is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adventure
- Adams ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Adams is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Wheless
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Wheless is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheless
- Augusta
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hephzibah
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Belair
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Belair is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belair
- Hamburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hamburg is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
- Martinez
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bath
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bath is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath
- Lamkin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Lamkin is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamkin
- Forrest ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Forrest is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forrest
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Beech Island
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Grovetown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Blythe
(11 miles [17.7 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 Salem. See our List of 1890's Communities around Salem.
Newspapers Published in Salem ...
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 130 newspapers that have been published in the area around Salem.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Salem, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Salem.
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 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 Salem:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Richmond County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Burke County
- Columbia County
- Jefferson County
- McDuffie County
- Aiken County
- Edgefield County
- McCormick 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> | 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 Salem, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Salem) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |