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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 Idlewood (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 Idlewood. 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 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.

Idlewood is located in Sumter 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 Sumter County: Calhoun, Clarendon, Florence, Kershaw, Lee & Richland.

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

  • Sumter County     (The home county of Idlewood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewood, with the one closest to Idlewood listed first.
    • Millwood
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Millwood is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
    • Sumter
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Cherryvale
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Cherryvale is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryvale
    • Ashley Creek Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Ashley Creek Village is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Creek Village
    • South Sumter
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • South Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Sumter
    • Cane Savannah
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
    • Mulberry
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Mulberry is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
    • East Sumter
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • East Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sumter
    • Dalzell
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Oakland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Oakland is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
    • Privateer
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Privateer is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privateer
    • Lakewood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Lakewood is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Wedgefield
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewood, with the one closest to Idlewood listed first.
    • Creston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Creston is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
    • Saint Matthews
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Clarendon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewood, with the one closest to Idlewood listed first.
    • Paxville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Alcolu
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Silver
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Silver is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
    • Panola
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Panola is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
    • Gable
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Sardinia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Manning
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • New Zion
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Turbeville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Summerton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Davis Station
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Jordan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Jordan is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
    • Union Crossroads
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Union Crossroads is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Crossroads
  • Darlington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewood, with the one closest to Idlewood listed first.
    • Lamar
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lamar is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lamar <1>
    • Lydia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Florence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewood, with the one closest to Idlewood listed first.
    • Cartersville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Cartersville is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Olanta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Sardis
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Sardis is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
    • Timmonsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Kershaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewood, with the one closest to Idlewood listed first.
    • Spring Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Spring Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Village
    • Camden
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Log Town ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Log Town is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log Town
    • Lugoff
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Shepard
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Shepard is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepard
    • Elgin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Elgin is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,585 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elgin <1>
    • Lafayette Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Lafayette Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Village
    • Cassatt
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewood, with the one closest to Idlewood listed first.
    • Manville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Manville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
    • Atkins
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Atkins is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Elliott
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Lynchburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Bishopville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Alcot
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Alcot is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcot
  • Orangeburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewood, with the one closest to Idlewood listed first.
    • Elloree
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Parler
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Parler is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parler
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewood, with the one closest to Idlewood listed first.
    • Eastover
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Gadsden
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Weston
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Weston is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
    • Bruner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Bruner is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
    • Pinewood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Pinewood is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinewood
    • Hopkins
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Capitol View
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Capitol View is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitol View
  • Williamsburg County
    • Terrell Crossroad
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Terrell Crossroad is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrell Crossroad

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

Cemeteries Near Idlewood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Idlewood.

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 Idlewood - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Williams Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Miller Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Gadson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Evergreen Memorial Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Loring Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Pitts Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Dargon Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Green Acres Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Sumter Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • White Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • White - Dick Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (172 more) ...
    • Pitts Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Four Bridges Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Hillside Memorial Park
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)

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 Idlewood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Idlewood.

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

  • Cane Savannah
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
  • Privateer
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Privateer is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privateer
  • Wedgefield
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Tindal
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Tindal is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tindal
  • Catchall
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Catchall is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catchall
  • Oswego
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Oswego is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
  • Claremont
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Claremont is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
  • Brogdon
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Brogdon is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brogdon
  • Mayesville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Hagood
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Hagood is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagood
  • Harvin
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Harvin is located in Clarendon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvin
  • Rembert
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Pisgah
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Pisgah is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Alcolu
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Boykin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Boykin is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin

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

Newspapers Published in Idlewood ...

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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Idlewood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Idlewood, there are papers which were published within 3 miles [4.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Idlewood.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Idlewood:

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 Idlewood, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Idlewood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.