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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 Canaan (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 Canaan. 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 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.

Canaan is located in Dorchester 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 Dorchester County: Bamberg, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton & Orangeburg.

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

  • Dorchester County     (The home county of Canaan)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Flowertown Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Flowertown Village is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flowertown Village
    • Brownsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Brownsville is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
    • Chandler Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Chandler Village is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler Village
    • Ridgeville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Summerville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Dorchester
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Grover
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Harleyville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint George
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Reevesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Berkeley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Ladson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Washington Town
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Washington Town is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Town
    • Caromi Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Caromi Village is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caromi Village
    • Highland Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Highland Village is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
    • Camelot Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Camelot Village is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camelot Village
    • Goose Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Mount Holly
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Mount Holly is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Holly
    • Hanahan
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Sandridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Sandridge is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandridge
    • Tarry Town
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Tarry Town is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarry Town
    • Moncks Corner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Pinopolis
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Cordesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Charleston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Lincolnville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Lincolnville is located in Charleston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,624 people
    • Canady Landing ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Canady Landing is located in Charleston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canady Landing
    • Ravenel
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Otranto
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Otranto is located in Charleston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otranto
    • Hollywood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Adams Run
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Meggett
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • North Charleston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Essex Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Essex Village is located in Charleston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essex Village
    • Dorchester
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Dorchester is located in Charleston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
    • Grove Creek Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Grove Creek Village is located in Charleston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Creek Village
    • Johns Island
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Charles Towne Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Charles Towne Village is located in Charleston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charles Towne Village
  • Colleton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Cottageville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Round O
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Jacksonboro
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Drigger Crossroads
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Drigger Crossroads is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drigger Crossroads
    • Sidney
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Sidney is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidney
    • Canadys
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Drawdy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Drawdy is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drawdy
    • Ritter
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Ritter is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritter
    • Walterboro
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Green Pond
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • White Hall
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • White Hall is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
    • Johnsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Johnsville is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsville
    • Ruffin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Orangeburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Holly Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Eutawville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Green Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Green Town is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Town
    • Possum Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Possum Town is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Town
    • Wells
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Wells is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells

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

Cemeteries Near Canaan ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Canaan.

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

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

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

  • Rosom Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Magnolia Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Beech Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Shepherd Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Cooke Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Salters Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Boone Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Summerville Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Murray Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Pauls Episcopal Church Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Macedonia Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Reeves Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (204 more) ...
    • Jedburg Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Johnson Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Muckenfuss Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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.<3>

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

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

  • Summerville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Ridgeville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Ladson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Cottageville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Otranto
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Otranto is located in Charleston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otranto
  • Long Ridge
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Long Ridge is located in Berkeley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Ridge
  • Mount Holly
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Mount Holly is located in Berkeley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Holly
  • Jacksonboro
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Belvedere
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Belvedere is located in Berkeley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvedere
  • Strawberry
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Strawberry is located in Berkeley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strawberry
  • Harleyville
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
  • Sandridge
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Sandridge is located in Berkeley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandridge
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Drawdy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Drawdy is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drawdy
    • Ashepoo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Ashepoo is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashepoo
    • Walterboro
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Canaan ...

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 Canaan.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Canaan, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Canaan.

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 helpful 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 Canaan:

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>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 Canaan, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Canaan) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.