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 Smith Ferry (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 Smith Ferry. 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 Smith Ferry ...
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 Smith Ferry: Smith Fry. (or less commonly used: Smith Frry.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Smith Ferry. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Smith Ferry.
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 and doctors 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.
Smith Ferry is located in Butts 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 Butts County: Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Monroe, Newton & Spalding.
Below are the counties that are near Smith Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smith Ferry:
- Butts County (The home county of Smith Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Flovilla
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jackson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Fincherville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fincherville is located in Butts County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fincherville
- Jenkinsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Baldwin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Meriwether
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Brown's Crossing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Brown's Crossing is located in Baldwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown's Crossing
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Payne
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Payne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne
- Macon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Clayton County
- Lovejoy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Locust Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Blacksville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Blacksville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacksville
- McDonough
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Whitehouse
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Whitehouse is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehouse
- Population from the 2010 Census: 6,792 people
- Highland Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Highland Village is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
- Tunis ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tunis is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunis
- Estimated population in 2019: 910 people
- Hampton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Oakwood Manor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oakwood Manor is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Manor
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,156 people
- Stockbridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Monticello
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Calvin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Calvin is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
- Estimated population in 2019: 126 people
- Hillsboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shady Dale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Round Oak
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Round Oak is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Oak
- Wayside
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Wayside is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayside
- Bradley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bradley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Ethridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ethridge is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ethridge
- Clinton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Clinton is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Former name for Clinton:
- Albany
- Gray
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Fortville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fortville is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fortville
- Morton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Morton is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton
- Estimated population in 2019: 549 people
- Haddock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- James
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- James is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
- Pitts
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pitts is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitts
- Estimated population in 2019: 293 people
- Belvedere Manor
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Belvedere Manor is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvedere Manor
- Population from the 2010 Census: 15,152 people
- Lamar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Liberty Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty Hill is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
- Goggins
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Goggins is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goggins
- Goggins has also been known as:
- Goggans Station
- Goggans
- Goggansville
- Goggins Station
- Gogginsville
- Barnesville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Milner
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Aldora
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Aldora is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldora
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Juliette
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Box Ankle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Box Ankle is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Box Ankle
- Forsyth
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Smarr
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bolingbroke
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Russellville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Russellville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Rutledge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Madison
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Mansfield Estates
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Mansfield Estates is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mansfield Estates
- Estimated population in 2019: 442 people
- Mansfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Newborn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Dixie Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Dixie Village is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie Village
- Dixie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Dixie is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
- Porterdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Newton Woods
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Newton Woods is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Woods
- Estimated population in 2019: 575 people
- Covington
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- East Wood
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- East Wood is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Wood
- Estimated population in 2019: 6,725 people
- Hub Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hub Junction is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hub Junction
- Salem Branch
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Salem Branch is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Branch
- Population from the 2010 Census: 310 people
- Oxford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Salem Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Salem Village is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Village
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Resseaus Crossroads
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Resseaus Crossroads is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Resseaus Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 63 people
- Eatonton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hallwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Hallwood is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallwood
- Dennis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Dennis is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennis
- Rockdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Milstead
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Milstead is located in Rockdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milstead
- Estimated population in 2018: 39,217 people
- Conyers
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Spalding County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- East Griffin
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- East Griffin is located in Spalding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Griffin
- Orchard Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Experiment
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Griffin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sunny Side
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Esmond
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Esmond is located in Spalding County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esmond
- Upson County
- Yatesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Walton County
- Social Circle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Smith Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Smith Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Smith Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smith Ferry.
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 Smith Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Smith Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Holloway Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lane Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Berry Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- China Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- New Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fellowship Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Concord Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Barber Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Maddox Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Williams Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Enon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Greer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (404 more) ...
- Minter Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Gunn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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 Smith Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Smith Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Smith Ferry, with the one closest to Smith Ferry listed first.
- Smiths Mill ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Smiths Mill is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Mill
- Cork
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cork is located in Butts County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cork
- Flovilla
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Indian Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Indian Springs is located in Butts County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs
- Gladesville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Gladesville is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladesville
- Minneta
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Minneta is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minneta
- Stark
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stark is located in Butts County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stark
- Mechanicsville ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Mechanicsville is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Cabaniss
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Cabaniss is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabaniss
- Monticello
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Jackson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Blount
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Blount is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Adgateville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Adgateville is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adgateville
- Former name for Adgateville:
- Adgateville
- Elgin ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Elgin is located in Butts County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- Juliette
(10 miles [16.1 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 Smith Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Smith Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Smith Ferry ...
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 Smith Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smith Ferry, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smith Ferry.
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 helpful 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 Smith Ferry:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Butts County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Baldwin County
- Bibb County
- Clayton County
- Henry County
- Jasper County
- Jones County
- Lamar County
- Monroe County
- Morgan County
- Newton County
- Putnam County
- Rockdale County
- Spalding County
- Upson County
- Walton 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> | 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 Smith Ferry, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Smith Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |