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The Commemorative Quarter for South Carolina





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 Central (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 Central. 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 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.

Central is located in Pickens 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 Pickens County: Transylvania (NC), Anderson, Greenville & Oconee.

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

  • Pickens County     (The home county of Central)
  • Abbeville County
  • Anderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Central, with the one closest to Central listed first.
    • Pendleton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • La France
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Sandy Springs
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Leisure Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Leisure Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure Village
      • Leisure Village is located in Anderson County
    • Northlake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Northlake have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northlake
      • Northlake is located in Anderson County
    • Townville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Centerville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Anderson Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Anderson Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson Village
      • Anderson Village is located in Anderson County
    • Centerville Terrace Estates
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Anderson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Powderville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Powderville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderville
      • Powderville is located in Anderson County
    • Price ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Price. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Price
      • Price is located in Anderson County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Price
      • From Central to Price
    • Caldwell Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Caldwell Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caldwell Village
      • Caldwell Village is located in Anderson County
  • Greenville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Central, with the one closest to Central listed first.
    • Golden Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Golden Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Grove
      • Golden Grove is located in Greenville County
    • Welcome
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • White Horse
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for White Horse. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Horse
      • White Horse is located in Greenville County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to White Horse
      • From Central to White Horse
    • Parker
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Parker have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
      • Parker is located in Greenville County
    • Dunean
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dunean have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunean
      • Dunean is located in Greenville County
    • Gantt
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Gantt. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantt
      • Gantt is located in Greenville County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Gantt
      • From Central to Gantt
    • Judson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Judson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
      • Judson is located in Greenville County
    • Berea
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Berea have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berea
      • Berea is located in Greenville County
    • Pine Hill Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pine Hill Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Hill Village
      • Pine Hill Village is located in Greenville County
    • City View
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for City View have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for City View
      • City View is located in Greenville County
    • Sans Souci
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sans Souci have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sans Souci
      • Sans Souci is located in Greenville County
    • Greenville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Conestee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Oconee County
  • Franklin County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Central, with the one closest to Central listed first.
    • Gumlog
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gumlog have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gumlog
      • Gumlog is located in Franklin County (GA)
    • Lavonia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lavonia have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavonia
      • Lavonia is located in Franklin County (GA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,187 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lavonia <2>
  • Hart County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Central, with the one closest to Central listed first.
    • Crawfords Ferry
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crawfords Ferry have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawfords Ferry
      • Crawfords Ferry is located in Hart County (GA)
      • Estimated population in 2019: 473 people
    • Reed Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reed Creek have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed Creek
      • Reed Creek is located in Hart County (GA)
    • Cooleys Ferry
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cooleys Ferry have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooleys Ferry
      • Cooleys Ferry is located in Hart County (GA)
      • Estimated population in 2019: 529 people
    • Maretts
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Dooleys Ferry
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dooleys Ferry have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooleys Ferry
      • Dooleys Ferry is located in Hart County (GA)
      • Estimated population in 2019: 136 people
    • Hartwell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Flat Shoals
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bowersville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Stephens County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Central, with the one closest to Central listed first.
    • Jarrett
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jarrett have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
      • Jarrett is located in Stephens County (GA)
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,974 people
    • Avalon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Avalon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
      • Avalon is located in Stephens County (GA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
    • Martin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Eastanollee
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Transylvania County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Central, with the one closest to Central listed first.
    • East Fork
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for East Fork. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
      • East Fork is located in Transylvania County (NC)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to East Fork
      • From Central to East Fork
    • Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Lake Toxaway
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Rosman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rosman have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosman
      • Rosman is located in Transylvania County (NC)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 624 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosman <2>
    • Sapphire
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sapphire have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sapphire
      • Sapphire is located in Transylvania County (NC)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sapphire <2>
    • Cedar Mountain
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cedar Mountain have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Mountain
      • Cedar Mountain is located in Transylvania County (NC)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cedar Mountain <2>

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

Cemeteries Near Central ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Central.

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 Central covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Zion Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Zion Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mt. Tabor Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Tabor Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Tabor Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • New Olive Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Welcome Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Welcome Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Welcome Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Boggs Family Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Norris Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Norris Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Norris Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pleasant Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Lawrence Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Woodland Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • New Hope Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Old Stone Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Old Stone Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Old Stone Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Old Stone Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (410 more) ...
    • Sharon Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sharon Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sharon Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Pendleton Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pendleton Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pendleton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Corinth Baptist Cemetery #2
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Corinth Baptist Cemetery #2
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Corinth Baptist Cemetery #2 have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Central had a population of 396 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Central had a population of 5,452 people.

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

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Central ...

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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Central.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Central. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Central and those printed in the larger area surrounding Central.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<5> of Central.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Central:

The official website for Central: www.cityofcentral.org/

The official website for Pickens County: www.co.pickens.sc.us/

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

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<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 Central, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Central) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Central. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 34.7239, Longitude: -82.7828    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 30 Mar 2025