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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Garris. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Garris to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Garris, please Contact Us.

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 Garris (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 Garris. 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 and hospitals 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Garris is historic, it would have been located within present day Bamberg County.

To see how the shape of South Carolina's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Bamberg County: Allendale, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton & Orangeburg.

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

  • Bamberg County     (The home county of Garris)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Garris, with the one closest to Garris listed first.
    • Denmark
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Govan
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Govan
      • Govan is located in Bamberg County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
    • Olar
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olar
      • Olar is located in Bamberg County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olar <2>
    • Bamberg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Ehrhardt
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Aiken County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Garris, with the one closest to Garris listed first.
    • Salley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Windsor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Perry
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Kitchings Mill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kitchings Mill. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitchings Mill
      • Kitchings Mill is located in Aiken County
      • Kitchings Mill has also been known as:
      • Kinchens Mill
    • Wagener
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Hawthorne ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hawthorne have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne
      • Hawthorne is located in Aiken County
    • New Ellenton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Camp Rawls
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Rawls
      • Camp Rawls is located in Aiken County
    • Montmorenci
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Talatha
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talatha
      • Talatha is located in Aiken County
  • Allendale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Garris, with the one closest to Garris listed first.
    • Ulmer
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Sycamore
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Allendale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Martin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairfax
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
  • Barnwell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Garris, with the one closest to Garris listed first.
    • Hilda
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Blackville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Reynold
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reynold have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynold
      • Reynold is located in Barnwell County
    • Barnwell
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Elko
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
      • Elko is located in Barnwell County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elko <2>
    • Whaley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
      • Whaley is located in Barnwell County
    • Kline
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Williston
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Snelling
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snelling
      • Snelling is located in Barnwell County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Hattieville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hattieville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hattieville
      • Hattieville is located in Barnwell County
  • Colleton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Garris, with the one closest to Garris listed first.
    • Lodge
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Ashton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
      • Ashton is located in Colleton County
    • Smoaks
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Johnsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsville
      • Johnsville is located in Colleton County
    • Williams
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Ruffin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Islandton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Hampton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Garris, with the one closest to Garris listed first.
    • Brunson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Pond Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pond Town have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Town
      • Pond Town is located in Hampton County
    • Miley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Crocketville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Gifford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Hampton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Varnville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Orangeburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Garris, with the one closest to Garris listed first.
    • Norway
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Cope
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cope
      • Cope is located in Orangeburg County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 70 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cope <2>
    • Springfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Neeses
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Bolen Town
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bolen Town have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolen Town
      • Bolen Town is located in Orangeburg County
    • Boiling Spring ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Boiling Spring have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boiling Spring
      • Boiling Spring is located in Orangeburg County
    • Livingston
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Livingston have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livingston
      • Livingston is located in Orangeburg County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 124 people
    • Cordova
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Branchville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Rowesville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Sixty Six
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixty Six
      • Sixty Six is located in Orangeburg County
    • Edisto
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Edisto have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edisto
      • Edisto is located in Orangeburg County
    • North
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North
      • North is located in Orangeburg County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 699 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for North <2>

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

Cemeteries Near Garris ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Garris.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Honeyford Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Honeyford Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Honeyford Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Capernaum Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Lebanon Christian Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Nimmons Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Nimmons Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Nimmons Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Starr Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Starr Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Starr Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Denmark Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Denmark Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Denmark Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jowers Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Jowers Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Jowers Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Bamberg County Memory Gardens
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bamberg County Memory Gardens
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bamberg County Memory Gardens have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Zion Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Jericho Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Jericho Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Jericho Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hope Memorial Park
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hope Memorial Park
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hope Memorial Park have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • County Memory Gardens
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the County Memory Gardens
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the County Memory Gardens have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (208 more) ...
    • Mitchell Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mitchell Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mitchell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Log Bridge Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Log Bridge Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Log Bridge Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jowers Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Jowers Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Jowers Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.

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

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

  • Govan
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Govan
    • Govan is located in Bamberg County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
  • Denmark
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Blackville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Ashleigh
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ashleigh have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashleigh
    • Ashleigh is located in Barnwell County
  • Reynold
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reynold have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynold
    • Reynold is located in Barnwell County
  • Bamberg
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Walker
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Walker have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
    • Walker is located in Barnwell County
  • Whaley
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
    • Whaley is located in Barnwell County
  • Elko
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
    • Elko is located in Barnwell County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elko <2>
  • Ulmer
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Snelling
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snelling
    • Snelling is located in Barnwell County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
  • Williston
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Springfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Sycamore
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • White Pond
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for White Pond have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Pond
      • White Pond is located in Aiken County

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

Newspapers Published in Garris ...

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 Garris.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Garris, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Garris.

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 websites either 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 Garris:

The official website for State of South Carolina: https://sc.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Garris, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<5>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.
<6>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- Garris) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Garris. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 33.2846, Longitude: -81.2115       In this case, the coordinates for Garris have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 22 Apr 2025