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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Donora. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Donora to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Donora, please Contact Us.

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 Donora (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 Donora. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Donora is historic, it would have been located within present day Barnwell 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 Barnwell County: Burke (GA), Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg & Orangeburg.

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

  • Barnwell County     (The home county of Donora)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donora, with the one closest to Donora listed first.
    • Snelling
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Snelling is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snelling
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Barnwell
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Hattieville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Hattieville is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hattieville
    • Kline
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Elko
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Elko is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elko <2>
    • Williston
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Reynold
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Reynold is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynold
    • Hilda
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Blackville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Whaley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Whaley is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
  • Aiken County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donora, with the one closest to Donora listed first.
    • Hawthorne ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Hawthorne is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne
    • Bush ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Bush is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
    • New Ellenton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Talatha
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Talatha is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talatha
    • Cowden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Cowden is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowden
    • Windsor
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Jackson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Oakwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Oakwood is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
    • Kathwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Kathwood is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kathwood
    • Browns Hill ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Browns Hill is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Hill
    • Montmorenci
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Kitchings Mill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Kitchings Mill is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitchings Mill
      • Kitchings Mill has also been known as:
      • Kinchens Mill
    • Huntcliff
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Huntcliff is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntcliff
  • Allendale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donora, with the one closest to Donora listed first.
    • Martin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Allendale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Ulmer
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Sycamore
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Fairfax
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Bamberg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donora, with the one closest to Donora listed first.
    • Govan
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Govan is located in Bamberg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Govan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
    • Olar
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Olar is located in Bamberg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olar <2>
    • Denmark
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Bamberg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Ehrhardt
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Hampton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donora, with the one closest to Donora listed first.
    • Brunson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Gifford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Pond Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Pond Town is located in Hampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Town
  • Orangeburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donora, with the one closest to Donora listed first.
    • Springfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Norway
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Burke County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donora, with the one closest to Donora listed first.
    • Girard
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Girard is located in Burke County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 150 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Girard <2>
    • Sardis
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Sardis is located in Burke County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 970 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sardis <2>
    • Thomas Station
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Thomas Station is located in Burke County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Station
      • Estimated population in 2019: 8,752 people
    • Waynesboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Richmond County (GA)
    • Nixon ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Nixon is located in Richmond County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixon
  • Screven County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donora, with the one closest to Donora listed first.
    • Millhaven
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Millhaven is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millhaven
    • Hilltonia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Hilltonia is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltonia
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 262 people
    • Hiltonia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Donora ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Donora.

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 Donora - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Singleton Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Dunbar Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Woods Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Walker Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Seven Pines Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Sanders Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Holmes Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Woods Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Scott Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Furse Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (208 more) ...
    • Old Field Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Dorch Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Bates Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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.

While we didn't find Donora in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Donora.

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

  • Dunbarton ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Dunbarton is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbarton
  • Snelling
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Snelling is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snelling
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
  • Greenland ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenland is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenland
  • Robbins ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Robbins is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins
  • Hattieville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Hattieville is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hattieville
  • Ashleigh
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Ashleigh is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashleigh
  • Elko
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Elko is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elko <2>
  • Williston
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Hawthorne ‑ Historic
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Hawthorne is located in Aiken County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne
  • Reynold
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Reynold is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynold
  • White Pond
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • White Pond is located in Aiken County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Pond
  • Girard
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Girard is located in Burke County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 150 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Girard <2>
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Talatha
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Talatha is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talatha
    • Cowden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Cowden is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowden
    • Blackville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Donora ...

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 14 newspapers that have been published in the area around Donora.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Donora, 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 Donora.

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 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 Donora:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Donora, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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 'straight-line' (or 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- Donora) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.