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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 Ferndale (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 Ferndale. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Ferndale is located in Florence 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 Florence County: Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Lee, Marion, Marlboro & Williamsburg.

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

  • Florence County     (The home county of Ferndale)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferndale, with the one closest to Ferndale listed first.
    • Ebenezer
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Ebenezer is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
    • Timmonsville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Florence
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Siesta Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Siesta Village is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siesta Village
    • Jones Crossroads
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Jones Crossroads is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Crossroads
    • Quinby
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Park City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Park City is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City
    • Tara Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Tara Village is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tara Village
    • Sardis
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Sardis is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
    • Danwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Danwood is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danwood
    • Cartersville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Cartersville is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Cusac Crossroads
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Cusac Crossroads is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cusac Crossroads
    • Effingham
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Chesterfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferndale, with the one closest to Ferndale listed first.
    • Patrick
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • McBee
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • McBee is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for McBee <1>
  • Clarendon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferndale, with the one closest to Ferndale listed first.
    • Turbeville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • New Zion
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Sardinia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Union Crossroads
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Union Crossroads is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Crossroads
    • Gable
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Darlington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferndale, with the one closest to Ferndale listed first.
    • Alexander Crossroads
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Alexander Crossroads is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Crossroads
    • Syracuse
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Syracuse is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Syracuse
    • Philadelphia ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Philadelphia is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Palmetto
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Palmetto is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
    • Pine Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Pine Village is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
    • Darlington
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Lamar
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Lamar is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lamar <1>
    • Lydia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Dovesville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Dovesville is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovesville
    • Mont Clare
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Mont Clare is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Clare
    • Hartsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • North Hartsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • North Hartsville is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hartsville
    • Prestwood Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Prestwood Village is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prestwood Village
  • Dillon County
    • Latta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Kershaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferndale, with the one closest to Ferndale listed first.
    • Bethune
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Pine Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Pine Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferndale, with the one closest to Ferndale listed first.
    • Lynchburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Elliott
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Atkins
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Atkins is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Alcot
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Alcot is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcot
    • Bishopville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Manville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Manville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferndale, with the one closest to Ferndale listed first.
    • Laughlin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Laughlin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laughlin
    • Sellers
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Marion
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Tabernacle
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Tabernacle is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabernacle
  • Marlboro County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferndale, with the one closest to Ferndale listed first.
    • Brownsville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Brownsville is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
    • Drake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Drake is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake
    • Blenheim
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Sumter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferndale, with the one closest to Ferndale listed first.
    • Hobbs Crossroads
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Hobbs Crossroads is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobbs Crossroads
    • Shiloh
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Shiloh is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Mayesville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Oswego
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Oswego is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
    • East Sumter
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • East Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sumter
    • Mulberry
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Mulberry is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
  • Williamsburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ferndale, with the one closest to Ferndale listed first.
    • Moore Crossroads
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Moore Crossroads is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Crossroads
    • Terrell Crossroad
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Terrell Crossroad is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrell Crossroad
    • Cades
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Ferndale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ferndale.

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

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

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

  • Anderson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Lake Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Sansbury Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Florence Memorial Gardens
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Garner Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Byrd Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Sunset Memory Gardens
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • James Memorial Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Peniel Baptist Church Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Cannon Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Quarters Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Indian Branch Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (272 more) ...
    • Odom Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Mill Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Magnolia Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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.<3>

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

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

  • Ebenezer
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Ebenezer is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
  • Timmonsville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Syracuse
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Syracuse is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Syracuse
  • Philadelphia ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Philadelphia is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
  • Palmetto
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Palmetto is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
  • Florence
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Howe
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Howe is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howe
  • Lamar
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Lamar is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lamar <1>
  • Cartersville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Cartersville is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
  • Sardis
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Sardis is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
  • Oats
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Oats is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oats
  • Effingham
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Floyd
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Floyd is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floyd
    • Lynchburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lydia
      (13 miles [20.9 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 Ferndale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ferndale.

Newspapers Published in Ferndale ...

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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ferndale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ferndale, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ferndale.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Ferndale:

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 Ferndale, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Ferndale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.