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 Smithsonia (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 Smithsonia. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Smithsonia is located in Bibb 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 Bibb County: Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach & Twiggs.
Below are the counties that are near Smithsonia. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smithsonia:
- Bibb County (The home county of Smithsonia)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithsonia, with the one closest to Smithsonia listed first.
- Wheeler Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Wheeler Heights is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Heights
- East Macon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- East Macon is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Macon
- Cross Keys
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Cross Keys is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
- Mogul
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mogul is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mogul
- Estimated population in 2019: 400 people
- Macon
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Rutland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rutland is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutland
- Estimated population in 2019: 842 people
- Payne
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Payne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne
- Walden
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Walden is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walden
- Estimated population in 2019: 964 people
- Bloomfield Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Bloomfield Park is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield Park
- Estimated population in 2019: 2,686 people
- Brookhaven
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Brookhaven is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookhaven
- Estimated population in 2019: 55,554 people
- Vinson Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Vinson Village is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinson Village
- West Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- West Point is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Lizella
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Baldwin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithsonia, with the one closest to Smithsonia listed first.
- Brown's Crossing
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Brown's Crossing is located in Baldwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown's Crossing
- Coopers
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Coopers is located in Baldwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopers
- Mount Pleasant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Baldwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- The Colony
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- The Colony is located in Baldwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Colony
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,834 people
- Hardwick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Milledgeville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oconee Old Town ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oconee Old Town is located in Baldwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oconee Old Town
- Meriwether
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bleckley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithsonia, with the one closest to Smithsonia listed first.
- Allentown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Royal
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Royal is located in Bleckley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal
- Estimated population in 2019: 2,571 people
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithsonia, with the one closest to Smithsonia listed first.
- Knoxville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Lee Pope
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lee Pope is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Pope
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,055 people
- Musella
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Roberta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Zenith
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Zenith is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenith
- Houston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithsonia, with the one closest to Smithsonia listed first.
- Elberta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Elberta is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elberta
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,329 people
- Warner Robins
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Centerville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Stathams Landing
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Stathams Landing is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stathams Landing
- Estimated population in 2019: 2,839 people
- Bonaire
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Woodard Estates
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Woodard Estates is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodard Estates
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,352 people
- Kathleen
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Perry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Clinchfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Jasper County
- Hillsboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithsonia, with the one closest to Smithsonia listed first.
- Belvedere Manor
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Belvedere Manor is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvedere Manor
- Population from the 2010 Census: 15,152 people
- Jones Acres
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jones Acres is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Acres
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,962 people
- Griswoldville ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Griswoldville is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswoldville
- Mountain Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Springs is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Springs
- Pitts
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pitts is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitts
- Estimated population in 2019: 293 people
- Morton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Morton is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton
- Estimated population in 2019: 549 people
- James
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- James is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
- Clinton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Clinton is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Former name for Clinton:
- Albany
- Gray
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Bradley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Bradley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Haddock
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fortville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Fortville is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fortville
- Wayside
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Wayside is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayside
- Laurens County
- Montrose
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithsonia, with the one closest to Smithsonia listed first.
- Bolingbroke
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Smarr
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Juliette
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Russellville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Russellville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Forsyth
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Culloden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Peach County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithsonia, with the one closest to Smithsonia listed first.
- Echeconnee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Echeconnee is located in Peach County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echeconnee
- Byron
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lakeview
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Lakeview is located in Peach County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Miami Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Miami Valley is located in Peach County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miami Valley
- Taylors Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Taylors Mill is located in Peach County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylors Mill
- Estimated population in 2019: 224 people
- Fort Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Washington Square
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Washington Square is located in Peach County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Square
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,963 people
- Putnam County
- Resseaus Crossroads
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Resseaus Crossroads is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Resseaus Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 63 people
- Twiggs County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithsonia, with the one closest to Smithsonia listed first.
- Dry Branch
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Huber
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Huber is located in Twiggs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huber
- Marion
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Marion is located in Twiggs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Jeffersonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Danville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Wilkinson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithsonia, with the one closest to Smithsonia listed first.
- Brooks
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Brooks is located in Wilkinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
- Gordon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ivey
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ivey is located in Wilkinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 899 people
- Dedrich
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Dedrich is located in Wilkinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dedrich
- Population from the 2010 Census: 2,146 people
- McIntyre
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Irwinton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Toomsboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Smithsonia, see our County-by-County Page for Smithsonia.
Cemeteries Near Smithsonia ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smithsonia.
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 Smithsonia - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Smithsonia covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Smithsonia, with the one closest to Smithsonia listed first.
- Andrews Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Stone Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Burkett Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ft. Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Rose Hill Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Macon.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #36699 <2>
- Camp Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St.s Rest Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Bond Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Tharp Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Nelson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Antioch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (351 more) ...
- Kitchens Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Kitchens Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
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 Smithsonia in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Smithsonia.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Smithsonia, with the one closest to Smithsonia listed first.
- Dry Branch
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Reids
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Reids is located in Twiggs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reids
- Macon
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Rutland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rutland is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutland
- Estimated population in 2019: 842 people
- Griswoldville ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Griswoldville is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswoldville
- Sofkee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sofkee is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sofkee
- Walden
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Walden is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walden
- Estimated population in 2019: 964 people
- Avondale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Avondale is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Fitzpatrick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Fitzpatrick is located in Twiggs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzpatrick
- Echeconnee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Echeconnee is located in Peach County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echeconnee
- Lewiston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lewiston is located in Wilkinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
- Plentitude ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Plentitude is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plentitude
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- James
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- James is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
- Morton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Morton is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton
- Estimated population in 2019: 549 people
- Clinton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Clinton is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Former name for Clinton:
- Albany
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Smithsonia. See our List of 1890's Communities around Smithsonia.
Newspapers Published in Smithsonia ...
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 85 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smithsonia.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smithsonia, there are papers which were published within 5 miles [8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smithsonia.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Smithsonia:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Bibb County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Baldwin County
- Bleckley County
- Crawford County
- Houston County
- Jasper County
- Jones County
- Laurens County
- Monroe County
- Peach County
- Putnam County
- Twiggs County
- Wilkinson 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 Smithsonia, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Smithsonia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |