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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 Hells Half Acre (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 Hells Half Acre. 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 Hells Half Acre ...

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.

While the name of this community is Hells Half Acre, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Hells Half Acre may originally have been Hell's Half Acre.

Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Hells Half Acre might be written as Hell Half Acre.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Hells Half Acre. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Hells Half Acre.

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 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.

Hells Half Acre 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 Hells Half Acre. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hells Half Acre:

  • Barnwell County     (The home county of Hells Half Acre)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hells Half Acre, with the one closest to Hells Half Acre listed first.
    • Barnwell
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Snelling
      (5 miles [8 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)
    • Kline
      (7 miles [11.3 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 <2>
    • Reynold
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Reynold is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynold
    • 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 Hells Half Acre, with the one closest to Hells Half Acre listed first.
    • Windsor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Hawthorne ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Hawthorne is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne
    • Salley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • New Ellenton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Oakwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Oakwood is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
    • Talatha
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Talatha is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talatha
    • Bush ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Bush is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
    • Kitchings Mill
      (24 miles [38.6 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
    • Cowden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Cowden is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowden
    • Montmorenci
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jackson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Perry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Nicholson Village
      (27 miles [43.5 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 Hells Half Acre, with the one closest to Hells Half Acre listed first.
    • Ulmer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Martin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Allendale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Sycamore
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Fairfax
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
  • Bamberg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hells Half Acre, with the one closest to Hells Half Acre 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 <2>
    • Denmark
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bamberg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Ehrhardt
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Colleton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hells Half Acre, with the one closest to Hells Half Acre listed first.
    • Lodge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Ashton
      (27 miles [43.5 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 Hells Half Acre, with the one closest to Hells Half Acre 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
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Miley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Hampton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Luray
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Orangeburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hells Half Acre, with the one closest to Hells Half Acre listed first.
    • Springfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Norway
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cope
      (22 miles [35.4 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 <2>
    • 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
      (30 miles [48.3 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 <2>
  • Burke County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hells Half Acre, with the one closest to Hells Half Acre 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 <2>
    • 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 <2>
  • Screven County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hells Half Acre, with the one closest to Hells Half Acre 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
      (29 miles [46.7 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
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Hells Half Acre ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hells Half Acre.

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 Hells Half Acre - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Holmes Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • County Memory Gardens
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • 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
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Jowers Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Hair Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Jowers Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • 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   (194 more) ...
    • Singleton Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Dunbar Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Walker 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.<4>

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

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

  • Ashleigh
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Ashleigh is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashleigh
  • Snelling
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Snelling is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snelling
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
  • Blackville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Reynold
    (9 miles [14.5 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 <2>
  • 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
  • Ulmer
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • White Pond
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • White Pond is located in Aiken County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Pond
  • 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 Hells Half Acre. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hells Half Acre.

Newspapers Published in Hells Half Acre ...

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 Hells Half Acre.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hells Half Acre, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hells Half Acre.

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 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 Hells Half Acre:

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 Hells Half Acre, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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- Hells Half Acre) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.