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 Brookdale (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 Brookdale. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Brookdale is located in Spartanburg 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 Spartanburg County: Polk (NC), Rutherford (NC), Cherokee, Greenville, Laurens & Union.
Below are the counties that are near Brookdale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Brookdale:
- Spartanburg County (The home county of Brookdale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
- Duncan
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lyman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Wellford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Startex
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Brookside Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brookside Village is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside Village
- Inman Mills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Inman Mills is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inman Mills
- Reidville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Gramling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Inman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fairforest
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Arcadia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Franklin Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Franklin Village is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Village
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
- Powderville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Powderville is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderville
- Piedmont
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Pelzer
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- West Pelzer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- West Pelzer is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pelzer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 953 people
- Williamston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
- Chesnee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Macedonia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Macedonia is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Greenville County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
- Greer
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chick Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Chick Springs is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
- O'Neal
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- O'Neal is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neal
- Pelham
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Pelham is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Taylors
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- East Gate Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- East Gate Village is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gate Village
- Wade Hampton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wade Hampton is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wade Hampton
- Five Forks
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Five Forks is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
- Paris
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Paris is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Gowensville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Gowensville is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowensville
- Highland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Highland is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Tigerville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Laurens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
- Green Pond
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Green Pond is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
- Gray Court
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Tylersville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tylersville is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
- Pickens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
- Dacusville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Dacusville is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dacusville
- Easley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Arial
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Arial is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arial
- Knob ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Knob is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
- Pickens
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
- Colerain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Colerain is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
- Jonesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Cleveland County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
- Byersville ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Byersville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byersville
- Cliffside
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cliffside is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffside
- Henderson County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
- Saluda
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Tuxedo
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Zirconia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Claremont
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Claremont is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
- East Flat Rock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Olive
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Olive is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Baxter
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Baxter is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
- Flat Rock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Upward
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Upward is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upward
- Dana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dana is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Barker Heights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Barker Heights is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Heights
- Valley Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Valley Hill is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Hill
- Polk County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
- Tryon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Lynn
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Lynn is located in Polk County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Melrose
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Melrose is located in Polk County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Columbus
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Mill Spring
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Rutherford County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
- Holly Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Holly Springs is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Harris
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Harris is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Shiloh
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Shiloh is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Sandy Mush
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy Mush is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Mush
- Alexander Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Alexander Mills is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Mills
- Bakersville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bakersville is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
- Henrietta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Henrietta is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Transylvania County (NC)
- Cedar Mountain
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Brookdale, see our County-by-County Page for Brookdale.
Cemeteries Near Brookdale ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brookdale.
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 Brookdale - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Brookdale covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
- Wood Memorial Park
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hillcrest Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- New Hope Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Zoar Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Mt. View Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Greer City Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Needmore Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Woods Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Mosteller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rector Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Washington Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (407 more) ...
- Startex Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Penney - McMillian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Lebanon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 Brookdale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Brookdale.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
- Greer
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Duncan
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wellford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Fairview
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Fairview is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Chick Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Chick Springs is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
- O'Neal
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- O'Neal is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neal
- Taylors
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Batesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Batesville is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batesville
- Pelham
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Pelham is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Reidville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Zion
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mount Zion is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Campton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Campton is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campton
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Inman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mitchell ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mitchell is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Andover ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Andover is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Brookdale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Brookdale.
Newspapers Published in Brookdale ...
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 7 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brookdale.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brookdale, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brookdale.
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 Brookdale:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Spartanburg County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Cherokee County
- Greenville County
- Laurens County
- Pickens County
- Union County
- Cleveland County
- Henderson County
- Polk County
- Rutherford 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> | 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 Brookdale, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Brookdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |