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 Shell Bluff (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 Shell Bluff. 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.
Name Variations for Shell Bluff ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Shell Bluff: Shell Blf. (or less commonly used: Shell Bluf.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Shell Bluff. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Shell Bluff.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 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.
Shell Bluff is located in Burke 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 Burke County: Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Richmond, Screven, Aiken (SC), Allendale (SC) & Barnwell (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Shell Bluff. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shell Bluff:
- Burke County (The home county of Shell Bluff)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shell Bluff, with the one closest to Shell Bluff listed first.
- Waynesboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Thomas Station
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Thomas Station is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Station
- Estimated population in 2019: 8,752 people
- Girard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Munnerlyn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Munnerlyn is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munnerlyn
- Sardis
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Drone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Drone is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drone
- Population from the 2010 Census: 14,568 people
- Brushy Creek ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Brushy Creek is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek
- Saint Clair
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Saint Clair is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
- Torbit Station ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Torbit Station is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torbit Station
- Torbit Station has also been known as:
- Torbit
- Gough
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Keysville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Vidette
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Vidette is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vidette
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Rosier
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Rosier is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosier
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shell Bluff, with the one closest to Shell Bluff listed first.
- Fort Gordon
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Forrest ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Forrest is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forrest
- Martinez
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Memory Park
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Arrow Head
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Arrow Head is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrow Head
- Grovetown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lamkin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lamkin is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamkin
- Lulaville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lulaville is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lulaville
- Estimated population in 2019: 2,961 people
- Evans
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Harlem
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shell Bluff, with the one closest to Shell Bluff listed first.
- Noah
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Noah is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noah
- Noah has also been known as:
- Noah Station
- Matthews
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Zebina
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Zebina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zebina
- Old Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Old Town is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Wrens
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Wrens Station
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Wrens Station is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrens Station
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,939 people
- Jenkins County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shell Bluff, with the one closest to Shell Bluff listed first.
- Perkins
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Millen
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Emmalane
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Emmalane is located in Jenkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmalane
- Scarboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Scarboro is located in Jenkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scarboro
- Richmond County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shell Bluff, with the one closest to Shell Bluff listed first.
- Nixon ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Nixon is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixon
- De Bruce
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- De Bruce is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Bruce
- Estimated population in 2019: 25,696 people
- Hephzibah
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gracewood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fairvale
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Fairvale is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairvale
- Population from the 2010 Census: 6,769 people
- Pepperidge
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Pepperidge is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepperidge
- Southgate Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Southgate Village is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southgate Village
- Blythe
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fleming Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fleming Heights is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming Heights
- Estimated population in 2019: 717 people
- Richmond Hills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Richmond Hills is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Hills
- Estimated population in 2019: 13,839 people
- Augusta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Barton Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Barton Village is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton Village
- Forest Hills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Screven County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shell Bluff, with the one closest to Shell Bluff listed first.
- Millhaven
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Millhaven is located in Screven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millhaven
- Hilltonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hilltonia is located in Screven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltonia
- Population from the 2010 Census: 262 people
- Hiltonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Zeigler
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Zeigler is located in Screven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
- Aiken County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shell Bluff, with the one closest to Shell Bluff listed first.
- Bush ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bush is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Cowden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cowden is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowden
- Kathwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Kathwood is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kathwood
- Browns Hill ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Browns Hill is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Hill
- Jackson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hawthorne ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hawthorne is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne
- Beech Island
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Savanna Town ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Savanna Town is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savanna Town
- Talatha
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Talatha is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talatha
- New Ellenton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bath
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Clearwater
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- North Augusta
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Allendale County (SC)
- Martin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Barnwell County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shell Bluff, with the one closest to Shell Bluff listed first.
- Hattieville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Hattieville is located in Barnwell County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hattieville
- Snelling
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Snelling is located in Barnwell County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snelling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shell Bluff, see our County-by-County Page for Shell Bluff.
Cemeteries Near Shell Bluff ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shell Bluff.
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 Shell Bluff - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shell Bluff covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shell Bluff, with the one closest to Shell Bluff listed first.
- Botsford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Beeson Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Walter Jones Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- McKinnie Branch Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Knight Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Smith Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Gordon Hill Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Mixon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Usher Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Foster Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mixon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (272 more) ...
- McBean Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Burke Memorial Gardens
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Old Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Shell Bluff had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shell Bluff, with the one closest to Shell Bluff listed first.
- Waynesboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- McBean
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- McBean is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBean
- Alexander
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Alexander is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
- Cowden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cowden is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowden
- Girard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Munnerlyn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Munnerlyn is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munnerlyn
- Sardis
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Robbins ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Robbins is located in Barnwell County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins
- Jackson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Drone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Drone is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drone
- Population from the 2010 Census: 14,568 people
- Hattieville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Hattieville is located in Barnwell County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hattieville
- Hephzibah
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Gracewood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hawthorne ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hawthorne is located in Aiken County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne
- Adventure ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Adventure is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adventure
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shell Bluff. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shell Bluff.
Newspapers Published in Shell Bluff ...
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 120 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shell Bluff.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shell Bluff, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shell Bluff.
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 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 Shell Bluff:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Burke County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Columbia County
- Jefferson County
- Jenkins County
- Richmond County
- Screven County
- Aiken County
- Allendale County
- Barnwell 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Shell Bluff) 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 Shell Bluff, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |