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 Cotton Valley (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 Cotton Valley. 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 Cotton Valley ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Cotton Valley: Cotton Vly. (or less commonly used: Cotton Vally. or Cotton Vlly.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Cotton Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Cotton Valley.
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Cotton Valley is located in Dillon 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 Dillon County: Columbus (NC), Robeson (NC), Florence, Horry, Marion & Marlboro.
Below are the counties that are near Cotton Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cotton Valley:
- Dillon County (The home county of Cotton Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton Valley, with the one closest to Cotton Valley listed first.
- Hamer
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Oakland Crossroads
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland Crossroads is located in Dillon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Crossroads
- Dillon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Little Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Floydale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lake View
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Minturn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Latta
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fork
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Florence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton Valley, with the one closest to Cotton Valley listed first.
- Jamestown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jamestown is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Mars Bluff
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mars Bluff is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Bluff
- Horry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton Valley, with the one closest to Cotton Valley listed first.
- Galivants Ferry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Green Sea
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton Valley, with the one closest to Cotton Valley listed first.
- Sellers
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mullins
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Nichols
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Marion
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Laughlin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Laughlin is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laughlin
- Rains
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Tabernacle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Tabernacle is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabernacle
- Marlboro County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton Valley, with the one closest to Cotton Valley listed first.
- Red Bluff
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Red Bluff is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bluff
- Clio
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brownsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Brownsville is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- McColl
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tatum
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Blenheim
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Drake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Drake is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake
- Bennettsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Newtonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Newtonville is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtonville
- Bladen County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton Valley, with the one closest to Cotton Valley listed first.
- Butters
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Butters is located in Bladen County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butters
- Bladenboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Columbus County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton Valley, with the one closest to Cotton Valley listed first.
- Fair Bluff
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Fair Bluff is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Bluff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 879 people
- Boardman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Boardman is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boardman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
- Evergreen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Evergreen is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
- Williamson Crossroads
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Williamson Crossroads is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson Crossroads
- Cerro Gordo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cerro Gordo is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cerro Gordo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Cedar Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Grove is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Grist
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Grist is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grist
- Chadbourn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Mount Olive
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Mount Olive is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Robeson County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton Valley, with the one closest to Cotton Valley listed first.
- Rowland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Alfordsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Alfordsville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfordsville
- McDonald
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- McDonald is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDonald
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Raynham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Raynham is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raynham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Fairmont
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Elrod
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Elrod is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrod
- Raemon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Raemon is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raemon
- Marietta
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Marietta is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
- Barnesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Barnesville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Proctorville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Proctorville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctorville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Pembroke
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Orrum
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Orrum is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Lowe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lowe is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowe
- Scotland County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton Valley, with the one closest to Cotton Valley listed first.
- Hasty
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Hasty is located in Scotland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasty
- East Laurinburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- East Laurinburg is located in Scotland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laurinburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 277 people
- Laurinburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gibson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Laurel Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Richmond Mill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Richmond Mill is located in Scotland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Mill
- Crump Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Crump Town is located in Scotland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crump Town
- Wagram
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- New Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- New Town is located in Scotland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cotton Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Cotton Valley.
Cemeteries Near Cotton Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cotton Valley.
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 Cotton Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cotton Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cotton Valley, with the one closest to Cotton Valley listed first.
- Miller Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Stewart Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Ayres Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hamilton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Kentyre Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Culbreth Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sanderson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Miller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Butler Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (444 more) ...
- McCormick Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- McCayhan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rowland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
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 Cotton Valley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Cotton Valley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cotton Valley, with the one closest to Cotton Valley listed first.
- Echo
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Echo is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
- Rowland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Gaddysville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gaddysville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaddysville
- Dillon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Little Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Alfordsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Alfordsville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfordsville
- Latta
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fork
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Barnesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Barnesville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Pembroke
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Zion
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Zion is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Orrum
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Orrum is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Lowe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lowe is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowe
- Moss Neck
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Moss Neck is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Neck
- Pates
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Pates is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pates
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cotton Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cotton Valley.
Newspapers Published in Cotton Valley ...
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 52 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cotton Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cotton Valley, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cotton Valley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Cotton Valley:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Dillon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Florence County
- Horry County
- Marion County
- Marlboro County
- Bladen County
- Columbus County
- Robeson County
- Scotland 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 Cotton Valley, 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' (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- Cotton Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |