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 Thomson (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 Thomson. 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.
Thomson is located in McDuffie County and is the County Seat.
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 McDuffie County: Columbia, Jefferson, Lincoln, Richmond, Warren & Wilkes.
Below are the counties that are near Thomson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Thomson:
- McDuffie County (The home county of Thomson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Boneville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hamilton Crossroads
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hamilton Crossroads is located in McDuffie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,117 people
- Dearing
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Megahee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Megahee is located in McDuffie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Megahee
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,031 people
- Columbia Mine ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Columbia Mine is located in McDuffie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia Mine
- Estimated population in 2019: 195,769 people
- Burke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Keysville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brushy Creek ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Brushy Creek is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek
- Saint Clair
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Clair is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
- Torbit Station ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Torbit Station is located in Burke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torbit Station
- Torbit Station has also been known as:
- Torbit
- Gough
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Sawdust
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Sawdust is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawdust
- Harlem
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Appling
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Maddox
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Maddox is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maddox
- Forrest ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Forrest is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forrest
- Grovetown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Kiokee
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Kiokee is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiokee
- Fort Gordon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Evans
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Arrow Head
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Arrow Head is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrow Head
- Snead
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Snead is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snead
- Estimated population in 2019: 20,077 people
- Lamkin
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Lamkin is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamkin
- Lulaville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lulaville is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lulaville
- Estimated population in 2019: 2,961 people
- Glascock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Gibson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Mitchell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Edge Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Edge Hill is located in Glascock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edge Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Daniel Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Daniel Springs is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel Springs
- Estimated population in 2019: 594 people
- White Plains
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Springfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Springfield is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Sparta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gum Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Gum Hill is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gum Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 2,146 people
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Stapleton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Avera
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Wrens
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Wrens Station
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Wrens Station is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrens Station
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,939 people
- Omaha Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Omaha Springs is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha Springs
- Matthews
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Noah
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Noah is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noah
- Noah has also been known as:
- Noah Station
- Zebina
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Zebina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zebina
- Stapletons Crossroads
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Stapletons Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stapletons Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 393 people
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Loce
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Loce is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loce
- Lincolnton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Goshen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Goshen is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Midway
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Midway is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Richmond County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Blythe
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Belair
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Belair is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belair
- Barton Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Barton Village is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton Village
- Waverly
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Waverly is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Hephzibah
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bonair
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Bonair is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonair
- Population from the 2010 Census: 3,135 people
- Fleming Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Fleming Heights is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming Heights
- Estimated population in 2019: 717 people
- Forest Hills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Richmond Hills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Richmond Hills is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Hills
- Estimated population in 2019: 13,839 people
- Rockbrook
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Rockbrook is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockbrook
- Population from the 2010 Census: 160 people
- De Bruce
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- De Bruce is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Bruce
- Estimated population in 2019: 25,696 people
- Gracewood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- National Hills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- National Hills is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for National Hills
- Taliaferro County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Raytown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Raytown is located in Taliaferro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raytown
- Sharon
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Crawfordville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Springfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Springfield is located in Taliaferro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Carters Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Carters Grove is located in Taliaferro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carters Grove
- Estimated population in 2019: 21,760 people
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Mesena
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Camak
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Cadley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cadley is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadley
- Estimated population in 2019: 540 people
- Warrenton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Norwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Barnett
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Barnett is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Jewell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Washington County
- Warthen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wilkes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Lundberg
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Lundberg is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lundberg
- Estimated population in 2019: 831 people
- Washington
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Tyrone
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Tyrone is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
- New Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Town is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Tignall
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Aiken County (SC)
- North Augusta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Edgefield County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Lenoir ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Lenoir is located in Edgefield County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenoir
- Colliers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Colliers is located in Edgefield County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colliers
- McCormick County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Clarks Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Modoc
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Parksville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Plum Branch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Thomson, see our County-by-County Page for Thomson.
Cemeteries Near Thomson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thomson.
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 Thomson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Thomson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Westview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Springfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Thomson City Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Hickory Tree Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Hardaway Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Watson Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Johnson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sweetwater Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- St. Luke Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Earle Street Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Story Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (501 more) ...
- Ivory Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Salem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Boneville UMC Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Thomson had a population of 836 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Thomson had a population of 6,463 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Thomson, with the one closest to Thomson listed first.
- Boneville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mesena
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Dearing
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Camak
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Warrenton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sawdust
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Sawdust is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawdust
- Cadley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cadley is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadley
- Estimated population in 2019: 540 people
- Bastonville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Bastonville is located in Glascock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bastonville
- Harlem
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Appling
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Norwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Avondale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Avondale is located in McDuffie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Cluese ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cluese is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cluese
- Clay Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Clay Hill is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay Hill
- Berzelia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Berzelia is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berzelia
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Thomson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Thomson.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Thomson ...
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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thomson.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Thomson. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Thomson and those printed in the larger area surrounding Thomson.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3> of Thomson.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Thomson:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to McDuffie County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Burke County
- Columbia County
- Glascock County
- Greene County
- Hancock County
- Jefferson County
- Lincoln County
- Richmond County
- Taliaferro County
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Wilkes 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> | 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 Thomson, 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 from Point A (ie- Thomson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |