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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 Forest Hills (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 Forest Hills. 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 hospitals and 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.

Forest Hills is located in Darlington 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 Darlington County: Chesterfield, Florence, Kershaw, Lee & Marlboro.

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

  • Darlington County     (The home county of Forest Hills)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Hills, with the one closest to Forest Hills listed first.
    • Prestwood Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Prestwood Village is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prestwood Village
    • Pine Ridge
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Pine Ridge is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
    • Hartsville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • North Hartsville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • North Hartsville is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hartsville
    • Lydia
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Greenplains ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Greenplains is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenplains
    • Philadelphia ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Philadelphia is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Dovesville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Dovesville is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovesville
    • Syracuse
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Syracuse is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Syracuse
    • Lamar
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Darlington
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Pine Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Pine Village is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
  • Chesterfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Hills, with the one closest to Forest Hills listed first.
    • McBee
      (10 miles [16.1 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>
    • Patrick
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Angelus
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Angelus is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angelus
    • Jefferson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Chesterfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Ruby
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Ruby is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ruby <1>
    • Cheraw
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Cheraw is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheraw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,554 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cheraw <1>
    • Mount Croghan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • White Plains
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • White Plains is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
  • Florence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Hills, with the one closest to Forest Hills listed first.
    • Timmonsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Cartersville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Cartersville is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Ebenezer
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Ebenezer is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
    • Florence
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Quinby
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Sardis
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Sardis is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
    • Jones Crossroads
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Jones Crossroads is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Crossroads
    • Siesta Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Siesta Village is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siesta Village
    • Tara Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Tara Village is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tara Village
    • Park City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Park City is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City
    • Danwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Danwood is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danwood
    • Cusac Crossroads
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cusac Crossroads is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cusac Crossroads
  • Kershaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Hills, with the one closest to Forest Hills listed first.
    • Bethune
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Pine Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Pine Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
    • Cassatt
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Shepard
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Shepard is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepard
    • Lafayette Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Lafayette Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Village
    • Westville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Kershaw
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Camden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Log Town ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Log Town is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log Town
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Hills, with the one closest to Forest Hills listed first.
    • Alcot
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Alcot is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcot
    • Bishopville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Manville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Manville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
    • Elliott
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Lynchburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Atkins
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Atkins is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
  • Marlboro County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Hills, with the one closest to Forest Hills listed first.
    • Drake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Drake is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake
    • Blenheim
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Wallace
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Brownsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Brownsville is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
    • Bennettsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Sumter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Hills, with the one closest to Forest Hills listed first.
    • Hobbs Crossroads
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Hobbs Crossroads is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobbs Crossroads
    • Mayesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Oswego
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Oswego is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
    • Shiloh
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Shiloh is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Dalzell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Rembert
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Forest Hills ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Forest Hills.

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 Forest Hills - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Kellytown Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Westview Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Greenlawn Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Magnolia Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Liberty Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Snowhill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Gainey Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Grantham Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Damascus Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Chapel Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (212 more) ...
    • Galloway Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • McLean Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Savannah Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)

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 Forest Hills in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Forest Hills.

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

  • Hartsville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Clyde
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Clyde is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
  • Lydia
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Oats
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Oats is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oats
  • Tillers Ferry
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Tillers Ferry is located in Kershaw County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillers Ferry
  • Greenplains ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenplains is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenplains
  • Bishopville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Philadelphia ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Philadelphia is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
  • Floyd
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Floyd is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floyd
  • Syracuse
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Syracuse is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Syracuse
  • Dovesville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Dovesville is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovesville
  • Lamar
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • 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>
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Bay Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Bay Springs is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Springs
    • Mont Clare
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Mont Clare is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Clare
    • Society Hill
      (18 miles [29 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 Forest Hills. See our List of 1890's Communities around Forest Hills.

Newspapers Published in Forest Hills ...

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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Forest Hills.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Forest Hills, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Forest Hills.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Forest Hills:

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 '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- Forest Hills) 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 Forest Hills, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.