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 Plains (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 Plains. 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 Cross Plains ...
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 Cross Plains: Cross Plns.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Cross Plains. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Cross Plains.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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 Plains is located in Greenville 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 Greenville County: Henderson (NC), Polk (NC), Transylvania (NC), Abbeville, Anderson, Laurens, Pickens & Spartanburg.
Below are the counties that are near Cross Plains. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cross Plains:
- Greenville County (The home county of Cross Plains)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Plains, with the one closest to Cross Plains listed first.
- Merrittsville ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Merrittsville is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrittsville
- Tigerville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Highland
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Highland is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Cleveland
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Slater
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Marietta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Travelers Rest
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- O'Neal
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- O'Neal is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neal
- Gowensville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Gowensville is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowensville
- Caesars Head
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Caesars Head is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caesars Head
- Berea
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Berea is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berea
- Chick Springs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Chick Springs is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Plains, with the one closest to Cross Plains listed first.
- Powderville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Powderville is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderville
- Piedmont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Pickens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Plains, with the one closest to Cross Plains listed first.
- Dacusville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dacusville is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dacusville
- Knob ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Knob is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
- Arial
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Arial is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arial
- Easley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pickens
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rocky Bottom
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Rocky Bottom is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Bottom
- Sunset
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Crow Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Crow Creek is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Creek
- Liberty
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Nine Times
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Nine Times is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Times
- Norris
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Six Mile
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Spartanburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Plains, with the one closest to Cross Plains listed first.
- Landrum
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Campobello
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Gramling
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Inman Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Inman Mills is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inman Mills
- Inman
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Duncan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lyman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wellford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Startex
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brookside Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brookside Village is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside Village
- Fingerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Reidville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Buncombe County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Plains, with the one closest to Cross Plains listed first.
- Arden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Avery Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Avery Creek is located in Buncombe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery Creek
- Royal Pines
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Royal Pines is located in Buncombe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Pines
- Skyland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Busbee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Busbee is located in Buncombe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busbee
- Fairview
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bent Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bent Creek is located in Buncombe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Creek
- Biltmore Forest
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Biltmore Forest is located in Buncombe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biltmore Forest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,431 people
- Henderson County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Plains, with the one closest to Cross Plains listed first.
- Tuxedo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Mount Olive
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mount Olive is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Zirconia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Saluda
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Claremont
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Claremont is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
- Flat Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- East Flat Rock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Upward
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Upward is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upward
- Barker Heights
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Barker Heights is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Heights
- Valley Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Valley Hill is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Hill
- Willow Bend
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Willow Bend is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Bend
- Baxter
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Baxter is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
- Polk County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Plains, with the one closest to Cross Plains listed first.
- Melrose
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Melrose is located in Polk County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Tryon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lynn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lynn is located in Polk County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Columbus
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mill Spring
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rutherford County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Plains, with the one closest to Cross Plains listed first.
- Chimney Rock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Village of Chimney Rock Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Village of Chimney Rock Village is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village of Chimney Rock Village
- Estimated population in 2015: 108 people
- Lake Lure
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Holly Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Holly Springs is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Green Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Green Hill is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Shiloh
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shiloh is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Transylvania County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Plains, with the one closest to Cross Plains listed first.
- Cedar Mountain
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Penrose
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Seven Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Seven Springs is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Springs
- Pisgah Forest
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Brevard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brevard is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,899 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brevard <1>
- East Fork
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- East Fork is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
- Rosman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Rosman is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 624 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosman <1>
- Balsam Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Lake Toxaway
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cross Plains, see our County-by-County Page for Cross Plains.
Cemeteries Near Cross Plains ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cross Plains.
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 Plains - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cross Plains covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cross Plains, with the one closest to Cross Plains listed first.
- Cross Plains Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Lima Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Cool Springs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Terrys Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- North Fork Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hagood - Hightower Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hawkins - Hightower Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cox Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- New Liberty Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mush Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tyger Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (329 more) ...
- Middle River Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Highland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mullinax Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 Cross Plains in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Cross Plains.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cross Plains, with the one closest to Cross Plains listed first.
- Lima
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Lima is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lima
- Tigerville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Merrittsville ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Merrittsville is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrittsville
- Highland
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Highland is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Taho ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Taho is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taho
- Glassy
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Glassy is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glassy
- Riverview
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Riverview is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- Marietta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy Flat
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Sandy Flat is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Flat
- Mitchell ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Mitchell is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Travelers Rest
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Tyger ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Tyger is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyger
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Zirconia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Wattacoo ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Wattacoo is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattacoo
- Mayfield ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mayfield is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cross Plains. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cross Plains.
Newspapers Published in Cross Plains ...
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 11 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cross Plains.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cross Plains, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cross Plains.
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 Cross Plains:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Greenville County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Pickens County
- Spartanburg County
- Buncombe County
- Henderson County
- Polk County
- Rutherford County
- Transylvania 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 Cross Plains, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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 Plains) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |