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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 Gaines Crossroads (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 Gaines Crossroads. 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.

Name Variations for Gaines Crossroads ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

  • A typical abbreviation for Gaines Crossroads: Gaines Xrds.
  • While the name of this community is Gaines Crossroads, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Gaines Crossroads may originally have been Gaine's Crossroads.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Gaines Crossroads might be written as Gaine Crossroads.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Gaines Crossroads is located in Greenwood 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 Greenwood County: Abbeville, Edgefield, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry & Saluda.

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

  • Greenwood County     (The home county of Gaines Crossroads)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gaines Crossroads, with the one closest to Gaines Crossroads listed first.
    • Fairforest
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Fairforest is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairforest
    • Springdale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Springdale is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
    • Mathews Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Mathews Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mathews Village
    • Ninety Six
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Panola Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Panola Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola Village
    • Promised Land
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Promised Land is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promised Land
    • Bradley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Verdery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Verdery is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verdery
    • Greenwood Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Greenwood Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Village
    • Greenwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Grendel Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Grendel Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grendel Village
    • Coronaca
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Coronaca is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coronaca
  • Abbeville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gaines Crossroads, with the one closest to Gaines Crossroads listed first.
    • Cana ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Cana is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cana
    • Abbeville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Ware Shoals
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Due West
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Donalds
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Monterey ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Monterey is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
    • Level Land
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Level Land is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Land
    • Calhoun Falls
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Latimer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Latimer is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latimer
    • Antreville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Antreville is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antreville
  • Edgefield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gaines Crossroads, with the one closest to Gaines Crossroads listed first.
    • Edgefield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Johnston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Colliers
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Colliers is located in Edgefield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colliers
    • Trenton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gaines Crossroads, with the one closest to Gaines Crossroads listed first.
    • Anglers Haven
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Anglers Haven is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anglers Haven
    • Collins Lakeside Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Cross Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Waterloo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Mountville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Mount Gallagher
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Mount Gallagher is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gallagher
    • Cold Point
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Cold Point is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Point
    • Ekom
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Ekom is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekom
    • Lisbon ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Lisbon is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Simpson ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Simpson is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
    • Joanna
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Kinards
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • McCormick County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gaines Crossroads, with the one closest to Gaines Crossroads listed first.
    • Liberty Hill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Liberty Hill is located in McCormick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
    • McCormick
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Plum Branch
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Parksville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Willington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Willington is located in McCormick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willington
    • Modoc
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Mount Carmel
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Clarks Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Newberry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gaines Crossroads, with the one closest to Gaines Crossroads listed first.
    • Chappells
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Old Town Ferry
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Old Town Ferry is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town Ferry
    • Mudlick
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Mudlick is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mudlick
    • Silverstreet
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Smyrna
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Helena
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Helena is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
    • Stoney Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Stoney Hill is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Hill
    • Newberry
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Saluda County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gaines Crossroads, with the one closest to Gaines Crossroads listed first.
    • Saluda
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Hickory Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Hickory Grove is located in Saluda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
    • Ward
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Ridge Spring
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Lincoln County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gaines Crossroads, with the one closest to Gaines Crossroads listed first.
    • Goshen
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Goshen is located in Lincoln County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
    • Hesters Ferry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Hesters Ferry is located in Lincoln County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesters Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2019: 911 people
    • Lincolnton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Midway
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Midway is located in Lincoln County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Lisbon ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Lisbon is located in Lincoln County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon

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

Cemeteries Near Gaines Crossroads ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gaines Crossroads.

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 Gaines Crossroads - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Old Pine Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Penn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Marshall Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Rushville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Vernon Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Friendship Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Mathews Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Save All Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Harling Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Magnolia Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Crossroads Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Cedar Grove Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (246 more) ...
    • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Fairview Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Hamilton Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 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.<4>

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

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

  • Ninety Six
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Bradley
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Greenwood
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Pleasant Lane
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Pleasant Lane is located in Edgefield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Lane
  • Meeting Street
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Meeting Street is located in Edgefield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeting Street
  • Cana ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Cana is located in Abbeville County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cana
  • Troy
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Troy is located in Greenwood County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 101 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Troy <2>
  • Chappells
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • McCormick
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Vaughanville
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Vaughanville is located in Newberry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughanville
  • Plum Branch
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Hodges
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Cross Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Darraugh
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Darraugh is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darraugh
    • Waterloo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Gaines Crossroads ...

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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gaines Crossroads.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gaines Crossroads, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gaines Crossroads.

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 Gaines Crossroads:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<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 Gaines Crossroads, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Gaines Crossroads) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.