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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 Goat Alley (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 Goat Alley. 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 southeast 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 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.

Goat Alley is located in Union 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 Union County: Cherokee, Chester, Fairfield, Laurens, Newberry, Spartanburg & York.

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

  • Union County     (The home county of Goat Alley)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goat Alley, with the one closest to Goat Alley listed first.
    • Buffalo
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Union
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Bonham
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Bonham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
    • Bishop Town ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
    • Colerain
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Colerain is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
    • Jonesville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Kelly
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Kelly is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
    • Sedalia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Sedalia is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
    • Meador ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Meador is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
    • Bailey Town ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Bailey Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
    • Red Town ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Red Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Town
    • Lockhart
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goat Alley, with the one closest to Goat Alley listed first.
    • East Gaffney
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • East Gaffney is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gaffney
    • Gaffney
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Macedonia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Macedonia is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
    • Kings Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Blacksburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Chester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goat Alley, with the one closest to Goat Alley listed first.
    • Cabal
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Cabal is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabal
    • Gayle Mill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Gayle Mill is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayle Mill
    • Lowrys
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Lowrys is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowrys
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
    • Chester
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Eureka Mill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Eureka Mill is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Mill
    • Cornwell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Cornwell is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwell
  • Fairfield County
    • Blair
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Greenville County
    • Fountain Inn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goat Alley, with the one closest to Goat Alley listed first.
    • Tylersville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
    • Renno
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Renno is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renno
    • Clinton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Dover ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Dover is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
    • Joanna
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Kinards
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Laurens
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Gray Court
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Lisbon ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Lisbon is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Cold Point
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Cold Point is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Point
    • Mountville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Green Pond
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Green Pond is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
  • Newberry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goat Alley, with the one closest to Goat Alley listed first.
    • Whitmire
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Glymphville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Glymphville is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glymphville
    • Sondleys ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Sondleys is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sondleys
    • Helena
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Helena is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
  • Spartanburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goat Alley, with the one closest to Goat Alley listed first.
    • Cross Anchor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Central Pacolet
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Central Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Pacolet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Pacolet
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacolet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,604 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pacolet <1>
    • Pauline
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Pacolet Mills
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • White Stone
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Camp Croft
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Camp Croft is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Croft
    • Glendale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Enoree
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Clifton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Moore
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Roebuck
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
  • York County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goat Alley, with the one closest to Goat Alley listed first.
    • Hopewell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Hopewell is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
    • Blairsville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Blairsville is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
    • Hickory Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Sharon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Smyrna
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • McConnells
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • York
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Goat Alley ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Goat Alley.

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 Goat Alley - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Rice Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Buffalo Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Parks Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Swink - Little Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Sanders Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Forest Lawn Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Palmer Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Gibbs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Humphries Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Rosemont Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Grace Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Upper Fairforest Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (365 more) ...

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.<2>

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

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

  • Union
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Bonham
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Bonham is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
  • West Springs
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • West Springs is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Springs
  • Colerain
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Colerain is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
  • Jonesville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Cross Keys
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Cross Keys is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
  • Sedalia
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Sedalia is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
  • Meador ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Meador is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
  • Kelton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Kelton is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelton
  • Dutchman
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Dutchman is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchman
  • Santuc
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Santuc is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santuc
  • Cross Anchor
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Glenn Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Glenn Springs is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenn Springs
    • Evinsville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Evinsville is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evinsville
    • Ada ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Ada is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ada

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

Newspapers Published in Goat Alley ...

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 19 newspapers that have been published in the area around Goat Alley.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Goat Alley, 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 Goat Alley.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Goat Alley:

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>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 Goat Alley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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 from Point A (ie- Goat Alley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.