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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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Cross Keys is located in Union 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 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)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bishop Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
    • Colerain
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Colerain have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
      • Colerain is located in Union County
    • 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)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Red Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Town
      • Red Town is located in Union County
    • Bonham
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bonham have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
      • Bonham is located in Union County
    • Jonesville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Sartor Town
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sartor Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartor Town
      • Sartor Town is located in Union County
    • Carlisle
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Bailey Town ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bailey Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
      • Bailey Town is located in Union County
    • Tuckertown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckertown
      • Tuckertown is located in Union County
    • Lockhart
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Cherokee County
    • Macedonia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
      • Macedonia is located in Cherokee County
  • 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)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabal
      • Cabal is located in Chester County
    • Gayle Mill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gayle Mill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayle Mill
      • Gayle Mill is located in Chester County
  • 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)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Five Forks have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
      • Five Forks is located in Greenville County
    • Simpsonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Woodland Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Woodland Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
      • Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
    • Pelham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pelham have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
      • Pelham is located in Greenville County
    • Fork Shoals
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fork Shoals have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fork Shoals
      • Fork Shoals is located in Greenville County
  • 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)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
    • Renno
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renno
      • Renno is located in Laurens County
    • 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)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lisbon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
      • Lisbon is located in Laurens County
    • Gray Court
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Cold Point
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Point
      • Cold Point is located in Laurens County
    • Mountville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Ekom
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekom
      • Ekom is located in Laurens County
    • Waterloo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Green Pond
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
      • Green Pond is located in Laurens County
  • 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)
    • Smyrna
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Glymphville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glymphville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glymphville
      • Glymphville is located in Newberry County
    • Newberry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Silverstreet
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Union
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
      • Union is located in Newberry County
  • 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)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacolet
      • Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,604 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pacolet <2>
    • 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)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Croft
      • Camp Croft is located in Spartanburg County
    • Central Pacolet
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Central Pacolet have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Pacolet
      • Central Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
      • 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)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
      • Green Pond is located in Spartanburg County
    • Roebuck
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Crescent
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
      • Crescent is located in Spartanburg County
  • York County
    • Hopewell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hopewell have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
      • Hopewell is located in York County

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

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.

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 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)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bobo Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bobo Cemetery
  • Macedonia Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Macedonia Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Macedonia Cemetery
  • Shiloh Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Shiloh Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Shiloh Cemetery
  • Padgetts Creek Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Padgetts Creek Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Padgetts Creek Cemetery
  • Murphy - Duncan Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Murphy - Duncan Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Murphy - Duncan Cemetery
  • Spring Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Spring Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Spring Hill Cemetery
  • Belmont Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Belmont Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Belmont Cemetery
  • New Prospects Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the New Prospects Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the New Prospects Cemetery
  • Holcombe Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Holcombe Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Holcombe Cemetery
  • Blackstock Road Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Blackstock Road Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Blackstock Road Cemetery
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • 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.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pleasant Hill Cemetery
  • Old Lower Fairforest Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Old Lower Fairforest Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Old Lower Fairforest Cemetery
  • Continue List   (338 more) ...
    • Lower Fairforest Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lower Fairforest Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lower Fairforest Cemetery
    • Gibbs Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Gibbs Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Gibbs Cemetery
    • Lawson Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lawson Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lawson Cemetery

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 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)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sedalia have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
    • Sedalia is located in Union County
  • Cross Anchor
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Colerain
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Colerain have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
    • Colerain is located in Union County
  • Huntington ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Huntington have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
    • Huntington is located in Laurens County
  • Evinsville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Evinsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evinsville
    • Evinsville is located in Spartanburg County
  • Tylersville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
    • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
  • Dutchman
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dutchman have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchman
    • Dutchman is located in Spartanburg County
  • West Springs
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Springs
    • West Springs is located in Union County
  • Hobbyville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hobbyville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobbyville
    • Hobbyville is located in Spartanburg County
  • Renno
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renno
    • Renno is located in Laurens County
  • Union
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Hillsville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hillsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsville
    • Hillsville is located in Spartanburg County
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Enoree
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Ora
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ora have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
      • Ora is located in Laurens County
    • 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.

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

The official website for Union County: www.countyofunion.com/

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>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- Cross Keys) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Cross Keys. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 34.6321, Longitude: -81.7768       In this case, the coordinates for Cross Keys have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<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 Cross Keys, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024