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 Dothan (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 Dothan. 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.
Dothan 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 Dothan. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dothan:
- Dillon County (The home county of Dothan)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dothan, with the one closest to Dothan listed first.
- Dillon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Latta
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Little Rock
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Floydale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Minturn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hamer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Oakland Crossroads is located in Dillon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Crossroads
- Fork
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lake View
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Darlington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dothan, with the one closest to Dothan listed first.
- Mont Clare
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Mont Clare is located in Darlington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Clare
- Palmetto
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Palmetto is located in Darlington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
- Society Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Darlington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pine Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pine Village is located in Darlington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
- Dovesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dovesville is located in Darlington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovesville
- Florence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dothan, with the one closest to Dothan listed first.
- Jamestown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jamestown is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Mars Bluff
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Mars Bluff is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Bluff
- Quinby
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Florence
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Siesta Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Siesta Village is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siesta Village
- Park City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Park City is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City
- Tara Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Tara Village is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tara Village
- Danwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Danwood is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danwood
- Ebenezer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ebenezer is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
- Pamplico
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Effingham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Horry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dothan, with the one closest to Dothan listed first.
- Galivants Ferry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Red Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Red Hill is located in Horry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Aynor
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dothan, with the one closest to Dothan listed first.
- Sellers
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Laughlin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Laughlin is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laughlin
- Marion
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Mullins
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Nichols
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rains
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Tabernacle
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Tabernacle is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabernacle
- Centenary
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Marlboro County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dothan, with the one closest to Dothan listed first.
- Brownsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Brownsville is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Clio
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Blenheim
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Drake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Drake is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake
- Red Bluff
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Red Bluff is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bluff
- Tatum
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- McColl
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Bennettsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Newtonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Newtonville is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtonville
- Columbus County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dothan, with the one closest to Dothan listed first.
- Fair Bluff
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Fair Bluff is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Bluff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 879 people
- Boardman
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Cerro Gordo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Cerro Gordo is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cerro Gordo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Williamson Crossroads
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Williamson Crossroads is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson Crossroads
- Cedar Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cedar Grove is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Evergreen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Evergreen is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
- Robeson County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dothan, with the one closest to Dothan listed first.
- Rowland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Alfordsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Alfordsville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfordsville
- Marietta
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Marietta is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
- Raemon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Raemon is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raemon
- Elrod
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Elrod is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrod
- McDonald
(18 miles [29 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
(18 miles [29 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
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Barnesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Barnesville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Alma
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Alma is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Maxton
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Pates
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Pates is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pates
- Scotland County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dothan, with the one closest to Dothan listed first.
- Hasty
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hasty is located in Scotland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasty
- East Laurinburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- East Laurinburg is located in Scotland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laurinburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 277 people
- Laurinburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Gibson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Laurel Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Richmond Mill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Richmond Mill is located in Scotland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Mill
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Dothan, see our County-by-County Page for Dothan.
Cemeteries Near Dothan ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dothan.
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 Dothan - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Dothan covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Dothan, with the one closest to Dothan listed first.
- Dothan Methodist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Rogers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bethel Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mt. Holly Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hamilton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Catfish Creek Baptist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bethea Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Magnolia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Oakey Point Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Greenlawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Riverside Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (431 more) ...
- Old Hamilton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ropers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lane Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
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.<3>
While we didn't find Dothan in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Dothan.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Dothan, with the one closest to Dothan listed first.
- Dillon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Latta
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Little Rock
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sellers
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Brownsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Brownsville is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Zion
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Zion is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Fork
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Echo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Echo is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
- Gaddysville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Gaddysville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaddysville
- Rowland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Clio
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Parnassus
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Parnassus is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Laughlin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Laughlin is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laughlin
- Alfordsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Alfordsville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfordsville
- Blenheim
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Dothan. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dothan.
Newspapers Published in Dothan ...
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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dothan.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dothan, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dothan.
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 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 Dothan:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Dillon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Darlington County
- Florence County
- Horry County
- Marion County
- Marlboro 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> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <3> | 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 Dothan, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Dothan) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |