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 Howells Ferry (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 Howells Ferry. 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 Howells Ferry ...
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.
While the name of this community is Howells Ferry, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Howells Ferry may originally have been Howell's Ferry.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Howells Ferry might be written as Howell Ferry.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Howells Ferry. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Howells Ferry.
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Howells Ferry is located in York 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 York County: Cleveland (NC), Gaston (NC), Mecklenburg (NC), Cherokee, Chester, Lancaster & Union.
Below are the counties that are near Howells Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Howells Ferry:
- York County (The home county of Howells Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Howells Ferry, with the one closest to Howells Ferry listed first.
- Hopewell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hopewell is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Hickory Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Blairsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Blairsville is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
- Sharon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Smyrna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- McConnells
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- York
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Filbert
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Filbert is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filbert
- Zadok ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Zadok is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zadok
- Clover
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Newport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Newport is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Bowling Green
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Howells Ferry, with the one closest to Howells Ferry listed first.
- Kings Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Blacksburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- East Gaffney
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- East Gaffney is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gaffney
- Gaffney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Macedonia
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Macedonia is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Chesnee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Chester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Howells Ferry, with the one closest to Howells Ferry listed first.
- Cabal
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Cabal is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabal
- Lowrys
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lowrys is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowrys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Gayle Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gayle Mill is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayle Mill
- Smith
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Smith is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
- Chester
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Eureka Mill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Eureka Mill is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Mill
- Edgemoor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cornwell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cornwell is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwell
- Lando
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Richburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Newberry County
- Whitmire
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Spartanburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Howells Ferry, with the one closest to Howells Ferry listed first.
- Central Pacolet
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Central Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Pacolet
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- Pacolet Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Pacolet
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Clifton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Cowpens
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- White Stone
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Glendale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Camp Croft
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Camp Croft is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Croft
- Converse
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Zion Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Zion Hill is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion Hill
- Pauline
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Drayton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Howells Ferry, with the one closest to Howells Ferry listed first.
- Lockhart
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bailey Town ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bailey Town is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
- Kelly
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kelly is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
- Jonesville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bonham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bonham is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
- Meador ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Meador is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
- Union
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Buffalo
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Bishop Town ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bishop Town is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
- Carlisle
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Red Town ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Red Town is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Town
- Colerain
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Colerain is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
- Cleveland County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Howells Ferry, with the one closest to Howells Ferry listed first.
- Grover
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Earl
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Earl is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earl
- Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
- Erwinsville ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Erwinsville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erwinsville
- Elbethel ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Elbethel is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbethel
- Durbro ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Durbro is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durbro
- Patterson Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Patterson Springs is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 628 people
- Pleasant Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- White Plains
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- White Plains is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
- Kings Mountain
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Flint Hill ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Flint Hill is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Hill
- Brittain Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Brittain Village is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brittain Village
- Sharon
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sharon is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Gaston County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Howells Ferry, with the one closest to Howells Ferry listed first.
- Begonia ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Begonia is located in Gaston County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Begonia
- South Gastonia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- South Gastonia is located in Gaston County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gastonia
- Bessemer City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Perry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Perry is located in Gaston County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry
- Gastonia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tryon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Tryon is located in Gaston County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryon
- Catawba ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Catawba is located in Gaston County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catawba
- Rutherford County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Howells Ferry, with the one closest to Howells Ferry listed first.
- Six Points
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Six Points is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Points
- Henrietta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Henrietta is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Caroleen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Caroleen is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caroleen
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Howells Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Howells Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Howells Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Howells Ferry.
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 Howells Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Howells Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Howells Ferry, with the one closest to Howells Ferry listed first.
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Abingdon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Spears Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Garner Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Pinckney Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Wood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- McKissick Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Foster - Woolbright Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gist - Giles - Pinckneyville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bullock Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Smith Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Going Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (372 more) ...
- Reidsville Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Sharon Associate Reformed Presbyterian Churchyard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Woodlawn Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
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 Howells Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Howells Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Howells Ferry, with the one closest to Howells Ferry listed first.
- Hopewell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hopewell is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Gould ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Gould is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Hoodtown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hoodtown is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoodtown
- Hickory Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bullock Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bullock Creek is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullock Creek
- Cotton ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cotton is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton
- Blairsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Blairsville is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
- Sharon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Kelton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kelton is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelton
- Smyrna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Kings Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Blacksburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Jonesville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wilksburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wilksburg is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilksburg
- Bonham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bonham is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Howells Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Howells Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Howells Ferry ...
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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Howells Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Howells Ferry, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Howells Ferry.
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 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 Howells Ferry:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to York County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cherokee County
- Chester County
- Newberry County
- Spartanburg County
- Union County
- Cleveland County
- Gaston County
- Rutherford County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for South Carolina
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 Howells Ferry, 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- Howells Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |