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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 Vada (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 Vada. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Vada is primarily located in Decatur County. A portion of Vada extends into Mitchell County.

To see how the shape of Georgia's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Decatur County: Gadsden (FL), Baker, Grady, Miller, Mitchell & Seminole.

Below are the counties that are near Vada. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Vada:

  • Decatur County     (The home county of Vada)
  • Baker County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vada, with the one closest to Vada listed first.
    • Lamar ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lamar. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
      • Lamar is located in Baker County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Lamar
      • From Vada to Lamar
    • Hawkinstown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hawkinstown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkinstown
      • Hawkinstown is located in Baker County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 5,270 people
    • Mimsville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mimsville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mimsville
      • Mimsville is located in Baker County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Mimsville
      • From Vada to Mimsville
    • Anna
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Anna. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anna
      • Anna is located in Baker County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Anna
      • From Vada to Anna
    • Newton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Milford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vada, with the one closest to Vada listed first.
    • Leary
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Leary have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leary
      • Leary is located in Calhoun County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 560 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leary <1>
    • Williamsburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Williamsburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
      • Williamsburg is located in Calhoun County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Williamsburg
      • From Vada to Williamsburg
    • Holt
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Holt. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
      • Holt is located in Calhoun County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Holt
      • From Vada to Holt
    • Arlington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Colquitt County
  • Early County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vada, with the one closest to Vada listed first.
    • Douglass Crossroads
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Douglass Crossroads have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglass Crossroads
      • Douglass Crossroads is located in Early County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 33,992 people
    • Damascus
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Douglasville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Hentown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hentown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hentown
      • Hentown is located in Early County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,944 people
  • Grady County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vada, with the one closest to Vada listed first.
    • Whigham
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Spence
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Cairo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Reno
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reno have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
      • Reno is located in Grady County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 285 people
    • Good Hope ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Good Hope have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
      • Good Hope is located in Grady County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 300 people
    • Midway
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Calvary
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
  • Miller County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vada, with the one closest to Vada listed first.
    • Boykin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Colquitt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Floydtown ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Floydtown. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floydtown
      • Floydtown is located in Miller County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Floydtown
      • From Vada to Floydtown
    • Mayhaw
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mayhaw. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayhaw
      • Mayhaw is located in Miller County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Mayhaw
      • From Vada to Mayhaw
  • Mitchell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vada, with the one closest to Vada listed first.
    • Greenwood ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Greenwood. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
      • Greenwood is located in Mitchell County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Greenwood
      • From Vada to Greenwood
    • Pelham
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Camilla
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cotton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Flint
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Pebble City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenough
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Greenough have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenough
      • Greenough is located in Mitchell County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,304 people
    • Baconton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Sale City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sale City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sale City
      • Sale City is located in Mitchell County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sale City <1>
    • De Witt
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for De Witt. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • De Witt is located in Mitchell County
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 154 people
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to De Witt
      • From Vada to De Witt
  • Seminole County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vada, with the one closest to Vada listed first.
    • Iron City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Reynoldsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reynoldsville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsville
      • Reynoldsville is located in Seminole County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 960 people
    • Donalsonville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Thomas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vada, with the one closest to Vada listed first.
    • Meigs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Hansell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hansell have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hansell
      • Hansell is located in Thomas County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 6,534 people
    • Ochlocknee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ochlocknee have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ochlocknee
      • Ochlocknee is located in Thomas County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 678 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ochlocknee <1>
    • Fredonia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Dewey City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dewey City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewey City
      • Dewey City is located in Thomas County
    • Thomasville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Leon County (FL)
    • Ocklockonee ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ocklockonee have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocklockonee
      • Ocklockonee is located in Leon County (FL)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Vada, see our County-by-County Page for Vada.

Cemeteries Near Vada ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vada.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Vada covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Vada, with the one closest to Vada listed first.

  • Union Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Union Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Union Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Brock Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Brock Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Brock Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mars Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mars Hill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mars Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Lamar Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Travelers Rest Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Travelers Rest Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Travelers Rest Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • New Hope Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the New Hope Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the New Hope Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Turkey Pen Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Turkey Pen Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Turkey Pen Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Logue Family Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Logue Family Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Logue Family Cemetery came from an uncertain source and they still need to be verified:<5>
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2482616 <4>
  • Mizpah Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mizpah Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mizpah Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Wilder Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Godwin Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Godwin Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Godwin Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Newberry Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Newberry Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Newberry Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (238 more) ...
    • Springhill Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Springhill Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Springhill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Maxwell Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Maxwell Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Maxwell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Dollar Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Dollar Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Dollar Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<6>

While we didn't find Vada in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Vada.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Vada, with the one closest to Vada listed first.

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Vada. See our List of 1890's Communities around Vada.

Newspapers Published in Vada ...

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 Vada.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Vada, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<7>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Vada.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Vada:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Vada. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Georgia: https://georgia.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>If we found a location and have questions about the accuracy of our information, we will simply say that the marker is 'in the vicinity'. We are not confident about the location and the position of our marker is only a rough guide. If we have too many doubts about the location, we will not include it in our database.
<6>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 Vada, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<7>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Vada) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Vada. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 31.0788, Longitude: -84.4135    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025