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 South Athol (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 South Athol. 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 South Athol ...
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 South Athol: S. Athol
You might be interested in other communities that are also named South Athol. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for South Athol.
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 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.
South Athol is located in Worcester County.
To see how the shape of Massachusetts' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Worcester County: Tolland (CT), Windham (CT), Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Cheshire (NH), Hillsborough (NH) & Providence (RI).
Below are the counties that are near South Athol. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to South Athol:
- Worcester County (The home county of South Athol)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Athol, with the one closest to South Athol listed first.
- Athol
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Athol is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athol
- Population from the 2020 Census: 11,698 people
- Petersham
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Petersham is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,237 people
- North Dana ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- North Dana is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dana
- Phillipston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Phillipston is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,739 people
- Dana ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dana is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Goulding Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Goulding Village is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goulding Village
- Brooks Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Brooks Village is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks Village
- Templeton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Templeton is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Templeton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,134 people
- Royalston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Royalston is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royalston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,278 people
- Baldwinville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Baldwinville is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwinville
- Greenwich Village ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Greenwich Village is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwich Village
- Barre
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Barre is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barre
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,574 people
- Mill Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mill Village is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Athol, with the one closest to South Athol listed first.
- Morse Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Morse Village is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse Village
- Orange
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Orange is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,581 people
- Millington ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Millington is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millington
- New Salem
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- New Salem is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,034 people
- Wendell Depot
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wendell Depot is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wendell Depot
- Wendell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Wendell is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wendell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 881 people
- North Orange
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- North Orange is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Orange
- Tully
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Tully is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tully
- Cooleyville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cooleyville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooleyville
- Erving
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Erving is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erving
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,749 people
- Shutesbury
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Shutesbury is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shutesbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,753 people
- Locks Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Locks Village is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locks Village
- Mayo Corners
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Mayo Corners is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayo Corners
- Hampden County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Athol, with the one closest to South Athol listed first.
- Thorndike
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Thorndike is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorndike
- Three Rivers
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Three Rivers is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Rivers
- West Brimfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- West Brimfield is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Brimfield
- Ludlow City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ludlow City is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow City
- Palmer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Palmer is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,174 people
- Tenneyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Tenneyville is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenneyville
- North Wilbraham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- North Wilbraham is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wilbraham
- Ludlow
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ludlow is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 21,101 people
- Brimfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Brimfield is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brimfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,679 people
- Holyoke
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Holyoke is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holyoke
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39,921 people
- Indian Orchard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Indian Orchard is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Orchard
- Monson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Monson is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,750 people
- Wilbraham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Wilbraham is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbraham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,670 people
- Hampshire County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Athol, with the one closest to South Athol listed first.
- Pelham
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pelham is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,305 people
- Enfield ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Enfield is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enfield
- West Pelham
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- West Pelham is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pelham
- Amherst Center
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Amherst Center is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst Center
- Amherst
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Amherst is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40,643 people
- East Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Village is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- North Amherst
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Amherst is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Amherst
- Belchertown
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Belchertown is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belchertown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,103 people
- Ware
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Ware is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,897 people
- South Amherst
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- South Amherst is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Amherst
- North Hadley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- North Hadley is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hadley
- Hatfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hatfield is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,243 people
- North Hatfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- North Hatfield is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hatfield
- Middlesex County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Athol, with the one closest to South Athol listed first.
- Ashby
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ashby is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
- South Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- South Village is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Village
- Old City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Old City is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old City
- West Townsend
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- West Townsend is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Townsend
- Townsend
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Townsend is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Townsend
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,448 people
- Cheshire County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Athol, with the one closest to South Athol listed first.
- Richmond
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Fitzwilliam Depot
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Fitzwilliam Depot is located in Cheshire County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzwilliam Depot
- Winchester
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Fitzwilliam
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Ashuelot
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Rindge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- West Rindge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- West Rindge is located in Cheshire County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Rindge
- Troy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Troy is located in Cheshire County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,117 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Troy <1>
- Hinsdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- East Swanzey
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- East Swanzey is located in Cheshire County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Swanzey
- Jaffrey
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Swanzey
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- West Swanzey
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hillsborough County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Athol, with the one closest to South Athol listed first.
- New Ipswich
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sharon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sharon is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 370 people
- Greenville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Peterborough
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Temple
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Temple is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,434 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Temple <1>
- West Peterborough
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- West Peterborough is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Peterborough
- Mason
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mason is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,433 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <1>
- North Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- North Village is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Village
- Windham County (VT)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Athol, with the one closest to South Athol listed first.
- South Vernon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- South Vernon is located in Windham County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Vernon
- Vernon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon is located in Windham County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,190 people
- Guilford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Guilford is located in Windham County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guilford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,102 people
- Guilford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brattleboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview Village is located in Windham County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Village
- West Brattleboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Brattleboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brattleboro is located in Windham County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brattleboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 11,257 people
- Halifax
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Halifax is located in Windham County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halifax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 674 people
- Halifax
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Halifax is located in Windham County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halifax
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to South Athol, see our County-by-County Page for South Athol.
Cemeteries Near South Athol ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Athol.
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 South Athol - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for South Athol covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from South Athol, with the one closest to South Athol listed first.
- Branch Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Northwest Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Fay Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- New Sherborn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- West Street Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ellinwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
- The Calvary Cemetery has also been known as:
- Calvary RC Cemetery
- Highland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Highland Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Athol.
- Jump to the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System: MACRIS ID #ATH.807 <2>
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #91078 <3>
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Coolidge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- East Street Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Silver Lake Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (410 more) ...
- Mountain View Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ledgeville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- South 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that South Athol had a population of 500 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from South Athol, with the one closest to South Athol listed first.
- North New Salem
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- North New Salem is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North New Salem
- New Salem
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- New Salem is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,034 people
- Millington ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Millington is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millington
- Petersham
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Petersham is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,237 people
- Orange
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Orange is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,581 people
- Athol
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Athol is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athol
- Population from the 2020 Census: 11,698 people
- North Dana ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- North Dana is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dana
- Dana ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dana is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Phillipston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Phillipston is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,739 people
- Wendell Depot
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wendell Depot is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wendell Depot
- Wendell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Wendell is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wendell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 881 people
- Cooleyville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cooleyville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooleyville
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Nichewaug ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Nichewaug is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichewaug
- Tully
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Tully is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tully
- North Orange
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- North Orange is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Orange
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around South Athol. See our List of 1890's Communities around South Athol.
Newspapers Published in South Athol ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Athol.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Athol, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for South Athol.
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 websites either 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 South Athol:
- Websites specific to Massachusetts
- Pages specific to Worcester County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Hampden County
- Hampshire County
- Middlesex County
- Cheshire County
- Hillsborough County
- Windham County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) has created and maintains a database of historic properties that is called MACRIS (for the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System). More information about the MHC and MACRIS can be found on their website: mhc-macris.net.
When visiting the MACRIS website, you might encounter their page requiring the 'Acceptance of Terms'. With your acceptance, you'll be transfered to the desired page.
|
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 South Athol, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- South Athol) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |