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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 Burns Down (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 Burns Down. 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 Burns Down ...

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.

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

Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Burns Down might be written as Burn Down.

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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.

Burns Down is located in Sumter 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 Sumter County: Calhoun, Clarendon, Florence, Kershaw, Lee & Richland.

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

  • Sumter County     (The home county of Burns Down)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burns Down, with the one closest to Burns Down listed first.
    • Sumter
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Millwood
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Millwood is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
    • Mulberry
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Mulberry is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
    • South Sumter
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • South Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Sumter
    • Ashley Creek Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Ashley Creek Village is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Creek Village
    • East Sumter
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • East Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sumter
    • Cane Savannah
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
    • Lakewood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Lakewood is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Cherryvale
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Cherryvale is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryvale
    • Privateer
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Privateer is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privateer
    • Oswego
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Oswego is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
    • Dalzell
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Oakland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Oakland is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burns Down, with the one closest to Burns Down listed first.
    • Creston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Creston is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
    • Saint Matthews
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Clarendon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burns Down, with the one closest to Burns Down listed first.
    • Paxville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Alcolu
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Gable
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sardinia
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Silver
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Silver is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
    • Panola
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Panola is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
    • Manning
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • New Zion
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Turbeville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Summerton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Union Crossroads
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Union Crossroads is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Crossroads
    • Davis Station
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Jordan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Jordan is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
  • Darlington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burns Down, with the one closest to Burns Down listed first.
    • Lamar
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Lamar is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lamar <2>
    • Lydia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Florence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burns Down, with the one closest to Burns Down listed first.
    • Cartersville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Cartersville is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Olanta
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Sardis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Sardis is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
    • Timmonsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Cusac Crossroads
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Cusac Crossroads is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cusac Crossroads
    • Jones Crossroads
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Jones Crossroads is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Crossroads
  • Kershaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burns Down, with the one closest to Burns Down listed first.
    • Camden
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Spring Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Spring Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Village
    • Log Town ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Log Town is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log Town
    • Lugoff
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Shepard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Shepard is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepard
    • Elgin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Elgin is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,585 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elgin <2>
    • Lafayette Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lafayette Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Village
    • Cassatt
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burns Down, with the one closest to Burns Down listed first.
    • Manville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Manville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
    • Atkins
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Atkins is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Elliott
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lynchburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Bishopville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Alcot
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Alcot is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcot
  • Orangeburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burns Down, with the one closest to Burns Down listed first.
    • Elloree
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Parler
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Parler is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parler
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burns Down, with the one closest to Burns Down listed first.
    • Eastover
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Gadsden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Weston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Weston is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
    • Bruner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Bruner is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
    • Pinewood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Pinewood is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinewood
    • Hopkins
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Williamsburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burns Down, with the one closest to Burns Down listed first.
    • Terrell Crossroad
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Terrell Crossroad is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrell Crossroad
    • Moore Crossroads
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Moore Crossroads is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Crossroads

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

Cemeteries Near Burns Down ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Burns Down.

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 Burns Down - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Evergreen Memorial Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Miller Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Green Acres Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Sumter Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Gadson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Dargon Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Webb Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • White Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Pitts Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • White - Dick Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (175 more) ...
    • St. Johns Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Loring Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Hillside Memorial Park
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)

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 Burns Down in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Burns Down.

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

  • Cane Savannah
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
  • Privateer
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Privateer is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privateer
  • Tindal
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Tindal is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tindal
  • Oswego
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Oswego is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
  • Wedgefield
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Catchall
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Catchall is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catchall
  • Brogdon
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Brogdon is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brogdon
  • Mayesville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Claremont
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Claremont is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
  • Harvin
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Harvin is located in Clarendon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvin
  • Hagood
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hagood is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagood
  • Alcolu
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Rembert
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Pisgah
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Pisgah is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Atkins
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Atkins is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins

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

Newspapers Published in Burns Down ...

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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Burns Down.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Burns Down, there are papers which were published within Less than 2 miles<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Burns Down.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Burns Down:

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 Burns Down, 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' (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- Burns Down) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.