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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 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 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 Orangeburg County.

To see how the shape of South Carolina's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Orangeburg County: Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Colleton, Dorchester & Lexington.

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:

  • Orangeburg County     (The home county of Canaan)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Cope
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cope
      • Cope is located in Orangeburg County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 70 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cope <1>
    • Sixty Six
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixty Six
      • Sixty Six is located in Orangeburg County
    • Rowesville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cordova
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Branchville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Edisto
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Edisto have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edisto
      • Edisto is located in Orangeburg County
    • Bolen Town
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bolen Town have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolen Town
      • Bolen Town is located in Orangeburg County
    • Orangeburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Wilkinson Heights
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wilkinson Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkinson Heights
      • Wilkinson Heights is located in Orangeburg County
    • Norway
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Bowman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Brookdale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brookdale have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookdale
      • Brookdale is located in Orangeburg County
    • Stilton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stilton
      • Stilton is located in Orangeburg County
  • Aiken County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Salley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Perry
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Allendale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Ulmer
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Sycamore
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Allendale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairfax
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Bamberg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Bamberg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Denmark
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Govan
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Govan
      • Govan is located in Bamberg County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
    • Ehrhardt
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Olar
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olar
      • Olar is located in Bamberg County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olar <1>
  • Barnwell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Hilda
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Blackville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Reynold
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reynold have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynold
      • Reynold is located in Barnwell County
    • Whaley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
      • Whaley is located in Barnwell County
    • Barnwell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Elko
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
      • Elko is located in Barnwell County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elko <1>
    • Kline
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Williston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Snelling
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snelling
      • Snelling is located in Barnwell County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Cameron
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cameron have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
      • Cameron is located in Calhoun County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
    • Saint Matthews
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Creston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
      • Creston is located in Calhoun County
  • Colleton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Johnsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsville
      • Johnsville is located in Colleton County
    • Lodge
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Smoaks
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Ashton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
      • Ashton is located in Colleton County
    • Williams
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Ruffin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Canadys
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Islandton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Sniders Crossroads
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sniders Crossroads
      • Sniders Crossroads is located in Colleton County
  • Dorchester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Reevesville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Saint George
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Grover
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Harleyville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Hampton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
    • Miley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Crocketville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Pond Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pond Town have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Town
      • Pond Town is located in Hampton County
  • Lexington County
    • Swansea
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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.

  • Emanuel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Emanuel Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Emanuel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Canaan Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Canaan Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Canaan Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Bethlehem Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bethlehem Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bethlehem Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Edisto Baptist Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Edisto Baptist Church Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Edisto Baptist Church Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Oakland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oakland Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oakland Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • South End Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the South End Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the South End Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Bamberg.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1438311 <3>
  • Peter Bowman Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Peter Bowman Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Peter Bowman Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Smoak Family Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Smoak Family Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Smoak Family Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Log Bridge Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Log Bridge Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Log Bridge Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Wesley Grove UMC Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Wesley Grove UMC Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Wesley Grove UMC Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Byrd Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Byrd Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Byrd Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (237 more) ...
    • New Hope Methodist Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the New Hope Methodist Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the New Hope Methodist Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Ebenezer Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ebenezer Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ebenezer Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Ott Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ott Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ott Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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 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.

  • Bamberg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Sixty Six
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixty Six
    • Sixty Six is located in Orangeburg County
  • Rowesville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Branchville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Felder
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Felder have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felder
    • Felder is located in Orangeburg County
  • Denmark
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Fifty Eight ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fifty Eight have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fifty Eight
    • Fifty Eight is located in Orangeburg County
  • Bowman
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
  • Govan
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Govan
    • Govan is located in Bamberg County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
  • Stilton
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stilton
    • Stilton is located in Orangeburg County
  • Boiling Spring ‑ Historic
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Boiling Spring have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boiling Spring
    • Boiling Spring is located in Orangeburg County
  • Reevesville
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Jamison
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamison
      • Jamison is located in Orangeburg County
    • Blackville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Ashton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
      • Ashton is located in Colleton County

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 32 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 21 miles [33.8 km]<5>. 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 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 Canaan:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Canaan. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Orangeburg County: www.orangeburgcounty.org/

The official website for State of South Carolina: https://sc.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>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.
<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 Canaan, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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- Canaan) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Canaan. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 33.3288, Longitude: -80.9409       In this case, the coordinates for Canaan have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 22 Apr 2025