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 Spring Lake (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 Spring Lake. 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 Spring Lake ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Spring Lake: Spring Lk.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Spring Lake. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Spring Lake.
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.
Spring Lake is located in Rabun 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 Rabun County: Habersham, Towns, Clay (NC), Jackson (NC), Macon (NC) & Oconee (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Spring Lake. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Spring Lake:
- Rabun County (The home county of Spring Lake)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Sky Valley
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Dillard
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Antioch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Antioch is located in Rabun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Mountain City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Clayton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Germany
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Germany is located in Rabun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germany
- Tiger
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lakemont
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wiley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tallulah Falls
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Habersham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Tugaloo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Tugaloo is located in Habersham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tugaloo
- Turnerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Clarkesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hills is located in Habersham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills
- Mauldins ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mauldins is located in Habersham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauldins
- Estimated population in 2019: 225 people
- Stephens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Jarrett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Jarrett is located in Stephens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,974 people
- Toccoa Falls
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Toccoa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Carnes Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Carnes Creek is located in Stephens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnes Creek
- Estimated population in 2019: 601 people
- Towns County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Tate City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Tate City is located in Towns County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate City
- Hiawassee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hunt ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hunt is located in Towns County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt
- Young Harris
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Sautee - Nacoochee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Helen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nacoochee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nacoochee is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nacoochee
- Naguchee ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Naguchee is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naguchee
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,141 people
- Robertstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Robertstown is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertstown
- Cherokee County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Topton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rhodo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rhodo is located in Cherokee County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodo
- Clay County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Elf
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Elf is located in Clay County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elf
- Hayesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Graham County (NC)
- Bear Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bear Creek is located in Graham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Jackson County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Highlands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cashiers
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Erastus
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Erastus is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erastus
- Glenville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gay
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Gay is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
- Forest Hills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Forest Hills is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
- Forest Hills has also been known as:
- Forest Hills village
- Village of Forest Hills
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Forest Hills <1>
- Tuckasegee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Laport
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Cullowhee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Greens Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- Argura
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Argura is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argura
- Webster
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Webster is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Macon County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Scaly Mountain
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Orlando
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Orlando is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Lickskillet
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Otto
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Ellijay
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Franklin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Leatherman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Tellico
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Tellico is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tellico
- Fairview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Swain County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Unahala
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Unahala is located in Swain County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unahala
- Nantahala
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Nantahala is located in Swain County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantahala
- Wesser
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wesser is located in Swain County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesser
- Almond
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Transylvania County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Sapphire
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Toxaway
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Balsam Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rosman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rosman is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 624 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosman <1>
- Oconee County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Mountain Rest
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Longcreek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Battle Creek is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle Creek
- Tamassee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Salem
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Walhalla
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- West Union
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Harbin ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Harbin is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbin
- Madison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Madison is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
- Westminster
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Richland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Newry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pickens County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Nine Times
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Nine Times is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Times
- Rocky Bottom
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Rocky Bottom is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Bottom
- Sunset
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Crow Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Crow Creek is located in Pickens County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Creek
- Six Mile
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Spring Lake, see our County-by-County Page for Spring Lake.
Cemeteries Near Spring Lake ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Spring Lake.
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 Spring Lake - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Spring Lake covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Watkins Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hale Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hale Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Duncan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Kelly Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Head of Tennesse Baptist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Kell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mc Connell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wesley Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hamby Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- McCurry Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (307 more) ...
- Green Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Antioch UMC Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Macedonia MB Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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 Spring Lake in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Spring Lake.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
- Scaly Mountain
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Otto
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Mountain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pine Mountain is located in Rabun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mountain
- Clayton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Highlands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Tiger
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Whetstone
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Whetstone is located in Oconee County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whetstone
- Mountain Rest
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Persimmon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Persimmon is located in Rabun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persimmon
- Cullasaja
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Cullasaja is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullasaja
- Blalock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Blalock is located in Rabun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blalock
- Franklin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Longcreek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cashiers
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ellijay
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Spring Lake. See our List of 1890's Communities around Spring Lake.
Newspapers Published in Spring Lake ...
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 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Spring Lake.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Spring Lake, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Spring Lake.
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 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 Spring Lake:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Rabun County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Habersham County
- Stephens County
- Towns County
- White County
- Cherokee County
- Clay County
- Graham County
- Jackson County
- Macon County
- Swain County
- Transylvania County
- Oconee County
- Pickens 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 Spring Lake, 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' (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- Spring Lake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |