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 Sandy Plain (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 Sandy Plain. 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 Sandy Plain ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Sandy Plain: Sandy Pln.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Sandy Plain. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Sandy Plain.
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 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.
Sandy Plain is located in Columbus County.
To see how the shape of North Carolina's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Columbus County: Bladen, Brunswick, Pender, Robeson & Horry (SC).
Below are the counties that are near Sandy Plain. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sandy Plain:
- Columbus County (The home county of Sandy Plain)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sandy Plain, with the one closest to Sandy Plain listed first.
- Ironhill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Ironhill is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironhill
- Pine Level
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pine Level is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Bethel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Nakina
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Nakina is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nakina
- Bug Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bug Hill is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bug Hill
- Tabor City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cribb Town
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cribb Town is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cribb Town
- Emerson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Emerson is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
- Clarendon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Clarendon is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarendon
- Pireway
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pireway is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pireway
- Brunswick
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Cedar Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Grove is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Chadbourn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Bladen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sandy Plain, with the one closest to Sandy Plain listed first.
- Rosindale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rosindale is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosindale
- Clarkton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Council
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Council is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- Abbottsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Abbottsburg is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbottsburg
- Brunswick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sandy Plain, with the one closest to Sandy Plain listed first.
- Ash
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Ash is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash
- Longwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Longwood is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood
- Exum
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Exum is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exum
- Carolina Shores
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Carolina Shores is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina Shores
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,802 people
- Calabash
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Beach
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Makatoka
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Makatoka is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Makatoka
- Shallotte
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Ocean Isle Beach
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sivey Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sivey Town is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sivey Town
- Supply
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Holden Beach
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Robeson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sandy Plain, with the one closest to Sandy Plain listed first.
- Barnesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Barnesville is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Marietta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Marietta is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
- Orrum
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Orrum is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Proctorville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Proctorville is located in Robeson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctorville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Dillon County (SC)
- Lake View
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Horry County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sandy Plain, with the one closest to Sandy Plain listed first.
- Loris
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Daisy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Daisy is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisy
- Little Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Little Town is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Town
- Longs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Finklea
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Finklea is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finklea
- Green Sea
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Gurley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gurley is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurley
- Hand
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Hand is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hand
- Cedar Creek Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Creek Village is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek Village
- Little River
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Nixonville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Nixonville is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixonville
- Cebu ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Cebu is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cebu
- Hickory Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hickory Grove is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Marion County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sandy Plain, with the one closest to Sandy Plain listed first.
- Nichols
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Mullins
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Rains
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sandy Plain, see our County-by-County Page for Sandy Plain.
Cemeteries Near Sandy Plain ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sandy Plain.
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 Sandy Plain - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sandy Plain covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sandy Plain, with the one closest to Sandy Plain listed first.
- Norris Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Cartrette Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Soles Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Milligan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Cox Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Prince Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Gore Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hardee Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wright Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Springfield Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Flag Patch Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (313 more) ...
- Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Spivey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Heavenly Hills Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<2>
While we didn't find Sandy Plain in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sandy Plain.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sandy Plain, with the one closest to Sandy Plain listed first.
- Ironhill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Ironhill is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironhill
- Dothan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Dothan is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dothan
- Mollie
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mollie is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mollie
- Loris
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bug Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bug Hill is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bug Hill
- Daisy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Daisy is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisy
- Emerson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Emerson is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
- Pireway
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pireway is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pireway
- Clarendon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Clarendon is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarendon
- Old Dock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Old Dock is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Dock
- Finklea
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Finklea is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finklea
- Gurley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gurley is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurley
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Hammond
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Hammond is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Ash
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Ash is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash
- Bayboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Bayboro is located in Horry County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayboro
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sandy Plain. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sandy Plain.
Newspapers Published in Sandy Plain ...
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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sandy Plain.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sandy Plain, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sandy Plain.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Sandy Plain:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Columbus County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bladen County
- Brunswick County
- Robeson County
- Dillon County
- Horry County
- Marion County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for North Carolina
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 Sandy Plain, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Sandy Plain) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |