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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 Happy Bottom (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 Happy Bottom. 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.

Happy Bottom is located in Barnwell 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 Barnwell County: Burke (GA), Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg & Orangeburg.

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

  • Barnwell County     (The home county of Happy Bottom)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Bottom, with the one closest to Happy Bottom listed first.
    • Barnwell
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Snelling
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Snelling is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snelling
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Hilda
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Reynold
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Reynold is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynold
    • Kline
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Elko
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Elko is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elko <1>
    • Blackville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Williston
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Whaley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Whaley is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
    • Hattieville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Hattieville is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hattieville
  • Aiken County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Bottom, with the one closest to Happy Bottom listed first.
    • Windsor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Hawthorne ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Hawthorne is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne
    • New Ellenton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Talatha
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Talatha is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talatha
    • Salley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Oakwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Oakwood is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
    • Kitchings Mill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Kitchings Mill is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitchings Mill
      • Kitchings Mill has also been known as:
      • Kinchens Mill
    • Bush ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Bush is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
    • Montmorenci
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Cowden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Cowden is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowden
    • Jackson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Nicholson Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Nicholson Village is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholson Village
  • Allendale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Bottom, with the one closest to Happy Bottom listed first.
    • Martin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Ulmer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Allendale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Sycamore
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Fairfax
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
  • Bamberg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Bottom, with the one closest to Happy Bottom listed first.
    • Govan
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Govan is located in Bamberg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Govan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
    • Olar
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Olar is located in Bamberg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olar <1>
    • Denmark
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bamberg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Ehrhardt
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
  • Colleton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Bottom, with the one closest to Happy Bottom listed first.
    • Lodge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Ashton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Ashton is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
  • Hampton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Bottom, with the one closest to Happy Bottom listed first.
    • Brunson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Pond Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Pond Town is located in Hampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Town
    • Gifford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Crocketville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Miley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Luray
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Hampton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Orangeburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Bottom, with the one closest to Happy Bottom listed first.
    • Springfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Norway
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cope
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Cope is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cope
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 70 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cope <1>
    • Neeses
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Boiling Spring ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Boiling Spring is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boiling Spring
    • Bolen Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Bolen Town is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolen Town
    • Livingston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Livingston is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livingston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 124 people
    • Cordova
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • North
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • North is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 699 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for North <1>
  • Burke County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Bottom, with the one closest to Happy Bottom listed first.
    • Girard
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Girard is located in Burke County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 150 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Girard <1>
    • Sardis
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Sardis is located in Burke County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 970 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sardis <1>
  • Screven County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Bottom, with the one closest to Happy Bottom listed first.
    • Millhaven
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Millhaven is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millhaven
    • Hilltonia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Hilltonia is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltonia
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 262 people
    • Hiltonia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Happy Bottom ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Happy Bottom.

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 Happy Bottom - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Holmes Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • County Memory Gardens
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Hope Memorial Park
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Lebanon Christian Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Seven Pines Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Jowers Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Jowers Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Hair Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Woods Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Blackville City Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Old Field Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Woods Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (191 more) ...
    • Singleton Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Bates Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Dunbar Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 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.<3>

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

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

  • Ashleigh
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Ashleigh is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashleigh
  • Snelling
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Snelling is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snelling
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
  • Reynold
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Reynold is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynold
  • Elko
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Elko is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elko <1>
  • Blackville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Dunbarton ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Dunbarton is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbarton
  • Williston
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Govan
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Govan is located in Bamberg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Govan
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
  • Walker
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Walker is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
  • White Pond
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • White Pond is located in Aiken County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Pond
  • Ulmer
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Denmark
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Whaley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Whaley is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
    • Greenland ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Greenland is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenland
    • Hattieville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Hattieville is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hattieville

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

Newspapers Published in Happy Bottom ...

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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Happy Bottom.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Happy Bottom, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Happy Bottom.

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 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 Happy Bottom:

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 Happy Bottom, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Happy Bottom) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.