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 Alta Vista (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 Alta Vista. 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 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.
Alta Vista is located in Greenville 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 Greenville County: Henderson (NC), Polk (NC), Transylvania (NC), Abbeville, Anderson, Laurens, Pickens & Spartanburg.
Below are the counties that are near Alta Vista. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alta Vista:
- Greenville County (The home county of Alta Vista)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Greenville
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Dunean
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Dunean is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunean
- Pine Hill Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Pine Hill Village is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Hill Village
- Judson
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Judson is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Welcome
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Welcome is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welcome
- City View
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- City View is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for City View
- Sans Souci
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sans Souci is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sans Souci
- Gantt
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gantt is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantt
- White Horse
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- White Horse is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Horse
- Parker
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Parker is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
- Paris
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Paris is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Berea
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Berea is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berea
- Conestee
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Abbeville County
- Honea Path
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Powderville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Powderville is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderville
- Piedmont
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pelzer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- West Pelzer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- West Pelzer is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pelzer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 953 people
- Williamston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Belton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Anderson Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Anderson Village is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson Village
- Northlake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Northlake is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northlake
- Pendleton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- La France
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Anderson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Caldwell Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Caldwell Village is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caldwell Village
- Laurens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Green Pond
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Green Pond is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
- Gray Court
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Princeton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Princeton is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princeton
- Simpson ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Simpson is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Oconee County
- Newry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Pickens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Dacusville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dacusville is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dacusville
- Easley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Arial
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Arial is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arial
- Liberty
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Pickens
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Knob ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Knob is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
- Norris
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Crow Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Crow Creek is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Creek
- Central
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Isaqueena Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Isaqueena Village is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isaqueena Village
- Six Mile
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Sunset
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Nine Times
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Nine Times is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Times
- Spartanburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Reidville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Duncan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Crescent
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Crescent is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
- Green Pond
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Green Pond is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
- Lyman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Startex
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wellford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Brookside Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Brookside Village is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside Village
- Woodruff
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Inman Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Inman Mills is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inman Mills
- Moore
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Gramling
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Inman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Henderson County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Saluda
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Tuxedo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Mount Olive
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Mount Olive is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Zirconia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Claremont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Claremont is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
- East Flat Rock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Flat Rock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Polk County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Melrose
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Melrose is located in Polk County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Tryon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Lynn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lynn is located in Polk County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Columbus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Transylvania County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Cedar Mountain
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- East Fork
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- East Fork is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alta Vista, see our County-by-County Page for Alta Vista.
Cemeteries Near Alta Vista ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alta Vista.
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 Alta Vista - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alta Vista covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Springwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Christ Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Woodside Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Welcome Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Salem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- White Oak Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Woodland Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Graceland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Judson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Resthaven Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mauldin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hudson Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (370 more) ...
- Edgewood Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Bethesda Baptist Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pinevale Memorial Park
(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.<4>
While we didn't find Alta Vista in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Alta Vista.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Greenville
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- White Horse
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- White Horse is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Horse
- Mauldin
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Taylors
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Chick Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Chick Springs is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
- Travelers Rest
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Batesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Batesville is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batesville
- Pelham
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Pelham is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Piedmont
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Simpsonville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Greer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Sandy Flat
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Sandy Flat is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Flat
- Dacusville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dacusville is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dacusville
- Woodville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Woodville is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alta Vista. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alta Vista.
Newspapers Published in Alta Vista ...
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 80 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alta Vista.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alta Vista, there are papers which were published within 5 miles [8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alta Vista.
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 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 Alta Vista:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Greenville County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Abbeville County
- Anderson County
- Laurens County
- Oconee County
- Pickens County
- Spartanburg County
- Henderson County
- Polk County
- Transylvania County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for South 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> | 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Alta Vista) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Alta Vista, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |