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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 Westchester (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 Westchester. 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 and doctors 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.

Westchester is located in Bulloch 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 Bulloch County: Bryan, Candler, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Jenkins & Screven.

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

  • Bulloch County     (The home county of Westchester)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westchester, with the one closest to Westchester listed first.
    • Statesboro
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Clito
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Clito is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clito
    • Eagle Court
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Eagle Court is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Court
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 164 people
    • Olde Towne
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Olde Towne is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olde Towne
    • Portal
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Register
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Kites Spur ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Kites Spur is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kites Spur
      • Estimated population in 2019: 227 people
    • Brooklet
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Leefield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Leefield is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leefield
    • New Hope
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • New Hope is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
    • Aaron
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Aaron is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aaron
    • Stilson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Stilson is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stilson
    • Statesborough
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Statesborough is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesborough
      • Estimated population in 2019: 32,954 people
  • Bryan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westchester, with the one closest to Westchester listed first.
    • Pembroke
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Ellabell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Candler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westchester, with the one closest to Westchester listed first.
    • Pulaski
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Metter
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Canoe
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Canoe is located in Candler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canoe
      • Estimated population in 2019: 785 people
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westchester, with the one closest to Westchester listed first.
    • Egypt
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Egypt is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
    • Guyton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Guyton is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guyton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,371 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Guyton <1>
    • Marlow
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Marlow is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Springfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Clyo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Emanuel County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westchester, with the one closest to Westchester listed first.
    • Garfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Twin City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Stillmore
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
  • Evans County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westchester, with the one closest to Westchester listed first.
    • Claxton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Daisy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Hagan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Bellville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Jenkins County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westchester, with the one closest to Westchester listed first.
    • Scarboro
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Scarboro is located in Jenkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scarboro
    • Thrift
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Thrift is located in Jenkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thrift
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,623 people
    • Emmalane
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Emmalane is located in Jenkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmalane
    • Millen
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
  • Screven County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westchester, with the one closest to Westchester listed first.
    • Dover
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Cameron
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cameron is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
      • Estimated population in 2019: 5,012 people
    • Cooperville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cooperville is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
    • Ogeechee ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Ogeechee is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogeechee
      • Former name for Ogeechee:
      • Oguchee
    • Rocky Ford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Oliver
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Captolo
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Captolo is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captolo
    • Newington
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Zeigler
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Zeigler is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
    • Sylvania
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hilltonia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Hilltonia is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltonia
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 262 people
    • Hiltonia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Tattnall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westchester, with the one closest to Westchester listed first.
    • Cobbtown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Cobbtown is located in Tattnall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbtown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 342 people
      • Former name for Cobbtown:
      • Cobb Town
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cobbtown <1>
    • Manassas
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Collins
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Westchester ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westchester.

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 Westchester - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Rigdon Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Deal Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Eastside Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Akins Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Friendship Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Clito Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Oliff Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Brannen Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Temple Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Langston Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Bulloch Memorial Gardens
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Elmer Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (267 more) ...
    • Eureka Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Oak Grove Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Noahs Ark 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.<3>

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

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

  • Clito
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Clito is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clito
  • Jimps
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Jimps is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimps
  • Blitch
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Blitch is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blitch
  • Dover
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Emit
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Emit is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emit
  • Cameron
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Cameron is located in Screven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
    • Estimated population in 2019: 5,012 people
  • Ogeechee ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Ogeechee is located in Screven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogeechee
    • Former name for Ogeechee:
    • Oguchee
  • Enal ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Enal is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enal
  • Halcyondale
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Halcyondale is located in Screven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halcyondale
  • Rocky Ford
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Arcola
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Arcola is located in Bulloch County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
  • Oliver
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Captolo
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Captolo is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captolo
    • Goloid
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Goloid is located in Screven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goloid
    • Statesborough
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Statesborough is located in Bulloch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesborough
      • Estimated population in 2019: 32,954 people

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

Newspapers Published in Westchester ...

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 Westchester.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westchester, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westchester.

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 Westchester:

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 Westchester, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Westchester) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.