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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 Simmons Bay (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 Simmons Bay. 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 Simmons Bay ...

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.

While the name of this community is Simmons Bay, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Simmons Bay may originally have been Simmon's Bay.

Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Simmons Bay might be written as Simmon Bay.

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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

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 south 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.

Simmons Bay 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 Simmons Bay. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Simmons Bay:

  • Columbus County     (The home county of Simmons Bay)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons Bay, with the one closest to Simmons Bay listed first.
    • Nakina
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Nakina is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nakina
    • Bug Hill
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Bug Hill is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bug Hill
    • Pine Level
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Pine Level is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
    • Bethel
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Bethel is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
    • Pireway
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Pireway is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pireway
    • Ironhill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Ironhill is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironhill
    • Brunswick
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Cribb Town
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Cribb Town is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cribb Town
    • Redbug
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Redbug is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbug
    • Hallsboro
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Hallsboro is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsboro
    • Clarendon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Clarendon is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarendon
    • Emerson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Emerson is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
  • Bladen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons Bay, with the one closest to Simmons Bay listed first.
    • Rosindale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Rosindale is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosindale
    • Council
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Council is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
    • Clarkton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • East Arcadia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • East Arcadia is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Arcadia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 470 people
    • Abbottsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Abbottsburg is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbottsburg
    • Kelly
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Kelly is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
    • Bladenboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Brunswick County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons Bay, with the one closest to Simmons Bay listed first.
    • Ash
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Ash is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash
    • Exum
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Exum is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exum
    • Longwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Longwood is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood
    • Makatoka
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Makatoka is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Makatoka
    • Carolina Shores
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Carolina Shores is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina Shores
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,802 people
    • Calabash
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Shallotte
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Sunset Beach
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Ocean Isle Beach
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Supply
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Sivey Town
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Sivey Town is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sivey Town
    • Holden Beach
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
  • Robeson County
    • Barnesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Barnesville is located in Robeson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
  • Horry County (SC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons Bay, with the one closest to Simmons Bay listed first.
    • Little Town
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Little Town is located in Horry County (SC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Town
    • Longs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Loris
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Loris is located in Horry County (SC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loris
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,807 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Loris <2>
    • Daisy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Daisy is located in Horry County (SC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisy
    • Little River
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Cedar Creek Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Cedar Creek Village is located in Horry County (SC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek Village
    • Green Sea
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Finklea
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Finklea is located in Horry County (SC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finklea
    • Cherry Grove Beach
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Hand
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Hand is located in Horry County (SC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hand
    • North Myrtle Beach
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Gurley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Gurley is located in Horry County (SC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurley
  • Marion County (SC)
    • Nichols
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Simmons Bay ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Simmons Bay.

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 Simmons Bay - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Formyduval Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Ross Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Duncan Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Watts Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Stack Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Blackmon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Coleman Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Stevens Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Simmons Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • McKeithan Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Clewis Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (246 more) ...
    • Etheridge Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Smith Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Myrtle Head 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.<3>

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

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

  • Old Dock
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Old Dock is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Dock
  • Bug Hill
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Bug Hill is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bug Hill
  • Mollie
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Mollie is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mollie
  • Pireway
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Pireway is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pireway
  • Ash
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Ash is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash
  • Ironhill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Ironhill is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironhill
  • Dothan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Dothan is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dothan
  • Exum
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Exum is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exum
  • Makatoka
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Makatoka is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Makatoka
  • Hallsboro
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Hallsboro is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsboro
  • Clarendon
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Clarendon is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarendon
  • Whiteville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Iredell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Iredell is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iredell
    • Lake Waccamaw
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Emerson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Emerson is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson

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

Newspapers Published in Simmons Bay ...

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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Simmons Bay.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Simmons Bay, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Simmons Bay.

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 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 Simmons Bay:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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 Simmons Bay, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Simmons Bay) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.