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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 Cross Keys (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 Cross Keys. 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 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.

Cross Keys is located in Union 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 Union County: Cherokee, Chester, Fairfield, Laurens, Newberry, Spartanburg & York.

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

  • Union County     (The home county of Cross Keys)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
    • Bishop Town ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
    • Sedalia
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Sedalia is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
    • Colerain
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Colerain is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
    • Buffalo
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Union
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Red Town ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Red Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Town
    • Bonham
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Bonham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
    • Delta
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Delta is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
    • Meador ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Meador is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
    • Jonesville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Sartor Town
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Sartor Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartor Town
    • Kelly
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Kelly is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
  • Cherokee County
    • Macedonia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Macedonia is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
  • Chester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
    • Cabal
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Cabal is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabal
    • Gayle Mill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Gayle Mill is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayle Mill
  • Fairfield County
    • Blair
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Greenville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
    • Fountain Inn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Five Forks
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Five Forks is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
    • Simpsonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Woodland Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Pelham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Pelham is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
    • Fork Shoals
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Fork Shoals is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fork Shoals
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
    • Tylersville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
    • Renno
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Renno is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renno
    • Dover ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Dover is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
    • Clinton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Joanna
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Laurens
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Kinards
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Lisbon ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Lisbon is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Gray Court
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Cold Point
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Cold Point is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Point
    • Mountville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Simpson ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Simpson is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
  • Newberry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
    • Whitmire
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Helena
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Helena is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
    • Mudlick
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Mudlick is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mudlick
    • Smyrna
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Glymphville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Glymphville is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glymphville
    • Newberry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Sondleys ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sondleys is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sondleys
    • Silverstreet
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Union
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Union is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
  • Spartanburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
    • Cross Anchor
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Enoree
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Pauline
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Woodruff
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Pacolet
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacolet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,604 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pacolet <1>
    • White Stone
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Moore
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Camp Croft
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Camp Croft is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Croft
    • Central Pacolet
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Central Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Pacolet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Pacolet Mills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Green Pond
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Green Pond is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
    • Roebuck
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
  • York County
    • Hopewell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Hopewell is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell

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

Cemeteries Near Cross Keys ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cross Keys.

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 Cross Keys - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Bobo Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Macedonia Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Shiloh Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Padgetts Creek Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Murphy - Duncan Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Spring Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Belmont Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • New Prospects Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Holcombe Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Blackstock Road Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Old Lower Fairforest Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (338 more) ...
    • Lower Fairforest Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Gibbs Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lawson 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Cross Keys had a population of 20 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Sedalia
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Sedalia is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
  • Cross Anchor
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Colerain
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Colerain is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
  • Huntington ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Huntington is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
  • Evinsville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Evinsville is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evinsville
  • Tylersville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
  • Dutchman
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Dutchman is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchman
  • West Springs
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • West Springs is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Springs
  • Hobbyville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hobbyville is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobbyville
  • Renno
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Renno is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renno
  • Union
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Hillsville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Hillsville is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsville
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Enoree
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Ora
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Ora is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
    • Clinton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Cross Keys ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cross Keys.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cross Keys, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cross Keys.

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 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 Cross Keys:

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