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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 El Bethel (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 El Bethel. 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 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.

El Bethel is located in Horry 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 Horry County: Brunswick (NC), Columbus (NC), Dillon, Georgetown & Marion.

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

  • Horry County     (The home county of El Bethel)
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Bethel, with the one closest to El Bethel listed first.
    • White Oak
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • White Oak is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Cochran Town
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Cochran Town is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochran Town
    • Conway
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Allen
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Allen is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
    • Cebu ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Cebu is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cebu
    • Hickory Grove
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Hickory Grove is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
    • Brownway
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Brownway is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownway
    • Cool Spring
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Cool Spring is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool Spring
    • Vina
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Vina is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vina
    • Gurley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Gurley is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurley
    • Aynor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Nixonville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Nixonville is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixonville
    • Forestbrook
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Florence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Bethel, with the one closest to El Bethel listed first.
    • Johnsonville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Hannah
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Hannah is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hannah
    • Pamplico
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Georgetown County
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Bethel, with the one closest to El Bethel listed first.
    • Carters Crossroads
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Carters Crossroads is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carters Crossroads
    • Murrells Inlet
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Allentown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Allentown is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allentown
    • Inlet Oaks Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Inlet Oaks Village is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet Oaks Village
    • Jackson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Jackson is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
    • Litchfield Beach
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Waverly Mills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Waverly Mills is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly Mills
    • Campfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Campfield is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campfield
    • Pawleys Island
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Willie Towne
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Willie Towne is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willie Towne
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Bethel, with the one closest to El Bethel listed first.
    • Gresham
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Centenary
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Rains
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Tabernacle
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Tabernacle is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabernacle
    • Mullins
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Nichols
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Marion
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Williamsburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Bethel, with the one closest to El Bethel listed first.
    • Hemingway
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Rome
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Rome is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
    • Stuckey
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Stuckey is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stuckey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
    • Nesmith
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Indiantown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Indiantown is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiantown
  • Brunswick County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Bethel, with the one closest to El Bethel listed first.
    • Carolina Shores
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Carolina Shores is located in Brunswick County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina Shores
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,802 people
    • Calabash
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Calabash is located in Brunswick County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calabash
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,360 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Calabash <1>
  • Columbus County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Bethel, with the one closest to El Bethel listed first.
    • Tabor City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Emerson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Emerson is located in Columbus County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
    • Ironhill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Ironhill is located in Columbus County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironhill
    • Clarendon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Clarendon is located in Columbus County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarendon
    • Bethel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Bethel is located in Columbus County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
    • Pine Level
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine Level is located in Columbus County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
    • Pireway
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Pireway is located in Columbus County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pireway
    • Bug Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bug Hill is located in Columbus County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bug Hill
    • Cribb Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Cribb Town is located in Columbus County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cribb Town
    • Nakina
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Nakina is located in Columbus County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nakina

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

Cemeteries Near El Bethel ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of El Bethel.

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 El Bethel - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Westside Memorial Gardens
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Rose Hill Memorial Gardens
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Hemingway Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Kingston Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Paul MB Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Hillcrest Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Thompson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Antioch UMC Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Old Antioch Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Thompkins Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Mt. Hermon Baptist Church Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Pauley Swamp Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (225 more) ...
    • Graham Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Hamilton Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Rehobeth Baptist Church Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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.<4>

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

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

  • Conway
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Forney
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Forney is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forney
  • Toddville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Toddville is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toddville
  • Cool Spring
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Cool Spring is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool Spring
  • Adrian
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Adrian is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
  • Privetts
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Privetts is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privetts
  • Jordanville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Jordanville is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordanville
  • Dongola
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Dongola is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dongola
  • Gideon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Gideon is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gideon
  • Bucksville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Bucksville is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucksville
  • Bayboro
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Bayboro is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayboro
  • Gurley
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Gurley is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurley
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Port Harrelson ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Port Harrelson is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Harrelson
    • Nixonville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Nixonville is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixonville
    • Bucksport
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Bucksport is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucksport

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

Newspapers Published in El Bethel ...

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 20 newspapers that have been published in the area around El Bethel.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of El Bethel, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for El Bethel.

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 El Bethel:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- El Bethel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 El Bethel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.