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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Ada. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Ada to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Ada, please Contact Us.

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 Ada (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 Ada. 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Ada is historic, it would have been located within present day Union County.

To see how the shape of South 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 Union County: Cherokee, Chester, Fairfield, Laurens, Newberry, Spartanburg & York.

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

  • Union County     (The home county of Ada)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
    • Red Town ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Red Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Town
    • Delta
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Delta is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
    • Sartor Town
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Sartor Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartor Town
    • Tuckertown
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Tuckertown is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckertown
    • Carlisle
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Meador ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Meador is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
    • Union
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Sedalia
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Sedalia is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
    • Bishop Town ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
    • Buffalo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Lockhart
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Bonham
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bonham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
    • Bailey Town ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Bailey Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
  • Chester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
    • Cabal
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Cabal is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabal
    • Gayle Mill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Gayle Mill is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayle Mill
    • Cornwell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Cornwell is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwell
    • Chester
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Blackstock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Eureka Mill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Eureka Mill is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Mill
    • Lowrys
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Lowrys is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowrys
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
    • Smith
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Smith is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
    • Richburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Fairfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
    • Blair
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Monticello
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Monticello is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
    • Woodward
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Woodward is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodward
    • Adger
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Adger is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adger
    • White Oak
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Jenkinsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Rock Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Rock Hill is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Hill
    • Winnsboro Mills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Winnsboro Mills is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnsboro Mills
    • Winnsboro
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Rion
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
    • Renno
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Renno is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renno
    • Dover ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Dover is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
    • Joanna
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Kinards
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Clinton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Tylersville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
    • Mountville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Laurens
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Lisbon ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Lisbon is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
  • Lexington County
    • Chapin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Chapin is located in Lexington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,664 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Chapin <2>
  • Newberry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
    • Whitmire
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Glymphville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Glymphville is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glymphville
    • Sondleys ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Sondleys is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sondleys
    • Helena
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Helena is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
    • Newberry
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Union
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Union is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Pomaria
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Smyrna
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Prosperity
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Slighs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Slighs is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slighs
    • Peak
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Peak is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peak
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Peak <2>
    • Little Mountain
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Silverstreet
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Spartanburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
    • Cross Anchor
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Enoree
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Central Pacolet
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Central Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Pacolet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Pacolet
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacolet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,604 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pacolet <2>
    • Pauline
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Pacolet Mills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • White Stone
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Camp Croft
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Camp Croft is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Croft
  • York County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
    • Hopewell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Hopewell is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
    • Blairsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Blairsville is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
    • McConnells
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Sharon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Hickory Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Ada ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ada.

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

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

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

  • Rogers Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Sims Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Cane Creek Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Gilliams Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Otterson Fort Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Rogers Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Cane Creek Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Kellys Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Jeter Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Cane Creek Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (311 more) ...
    • Fant Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Cold Well Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Lee Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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.

Ada itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Delta
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Delta is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
  • Goshen Hill
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Goshen Hill is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen Hill
  • Carlisle
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Santuc
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Santuc is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santuc
  • Whitmire
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Shelton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Shelton is located in Fairfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelton
  • Herbert
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Herbert is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
  • Maybinton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Maybinton is located in Newberry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maybinton
  • Leeds
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Leeds is located in Chester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
  • Meador ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Meador is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
  • Lylesford ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Lylesford is located in Fairfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lylesford
  • Feasterville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Feasterville is located in Fairfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Feasterville
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Union
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Sedalia
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Sedalia is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
    • Blair
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Ada ...

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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ada.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ada, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ada.

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 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 Ada:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Ada, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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 from Point A (ie- Ada) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.