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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 Irwin (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 Irwin. 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 and hospitals 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.

Irwin is located in Lancaster 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 Lancaster County: Mecklenburg (NC), Union (NC), Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Kershaw & York.

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

  • Lancaster County     (The home county of Irwin)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
    • Lancaster Mill
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Lancaster Mill is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lancaster Mill
    • Caskey
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Caskey is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caskey
    • Lancaster
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bell Town
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Bell Town is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Town
    • Elgin
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Elgin is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
    • Riverside
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Riverside is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
    • Camp Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Camp Creek is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Creek
    • Springdell
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Springdell is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdell
    • Pleasant Hill
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Pleasant Hill is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
    • Primus
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Primus is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primus
    • Heath Springs
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Union
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Union is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Van Wyck
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Chester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
    • Fort Lawn
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Great Falls
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Richburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Lando
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Edgemoor
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Smith
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Smith is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
    • Blackstock
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Cornwell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Cornwell is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwell
    • Eureka Mill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Eureka Mill is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Mill
    • Chester
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Gayle Mill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Gayle Mill is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayle Mill
    • Lowrys
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Lowrys is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowrys
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
  • Chesterfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
    • White Plains
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • White Plains is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
    • Jefferson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Pageland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Angelus
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Angelus is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angelus
  • Fairfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
    • Mitford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Mitford is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitford
    • White Oak
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodward
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodward is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodward
    • Adger
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Adger is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adger
    • Winnsboro
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Ridgeway
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Winnsboro Mills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Winnsboro Mills is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnsboro Mills
    • Smallwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Smallwood is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smallwood
  • Kershaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
    • Liberty Hill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Kershaw
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Westville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Lafayette Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Lafayette Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Village
    • Shepard
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Shepard is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepard
  • York County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
    • Catawba
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Roddey
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Roddey is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roddey
      • Roddey has also been known as:
      • Coates Tavern
    • Lesslie
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Lesslie is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lesslie
    • Rock Hill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Fort Mill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Riverview
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Riverview is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
    • India Hook
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • India Hook is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for India Hook
    • McConnells
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Newport
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Newport is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
    • Tega Cay
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Mecklenburg County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
    • Weddington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Weddington is located in Mecklenburg County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weddington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,389 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Weddington <1>
    • Pineville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Pineville is located in Mecklenburg County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,185 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pineville <1>
    • Providence ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Providence is located in Mecklenburg County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
    • Matthews
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Matthews is located in Mecklenburg County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matthews
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 33,718 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Matthews <1>
  • Union County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
    • Jaars
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Jaars is located in Union County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaars
    • Jackson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Jackson is located in Union County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
    • Waxhaw
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Waxhaw is located in Union County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waxhaw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,987 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waxhaw <1>
    • Mineral Springs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Trinity
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Trinity is located in Union County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
    • Altan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Altan is located in Union County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altan
    • Marvin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Marvin is located in Union County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marvin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,920 people
    • Wesley Chapel
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • White Oak
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • White Oak is located in Union County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Carmel Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Carmel Village is located in Union County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmel Village
    • Monroe
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Monroe is located in Union County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,668 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Monroe <1>
    • Rock Rest
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Rock Rest is located in Union County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Rest
    • Allens Crossroads
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Allens Crossroads is located in Union County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Crossroads

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

Cemeteries Near Irwin ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Irwin.

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

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

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

  • Lancaster Memorial Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Old Presbyterian Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Clinton Memorial Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • West Side Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Elmwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Camp Creek Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Carmel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Shiloh Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Union Ezella Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Stroud Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Waxhaw Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Howze Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (159 more) ...
    • Mt. Carmel Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Caskey Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Mackey Walker Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<3>

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

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

  • Caskey
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Caskey is located in Lancaster County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caskey
  • Fort Lawn
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Riverside
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Riverside is located in Lancaster County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
  • Landsford
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Landsford is located in Chester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landsford
  • Bascomville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Bascomville is located in Chester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bascomville
  • Pleasant Hill
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Pleasant Hill is located in Lancaster County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
  • Primus
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Primus is located in Lancaster County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primus
  • New Cut
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • New Cut is located in Lancaster County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Cut
  • Rossville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Rossville is located in Chester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossville
  • Van Wyck
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Richburg
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Oakhurst
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Oakhurst is located in Lancaster County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakhurst
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Catawba
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Harmony
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Harmony is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
    • Roddey
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Roddey is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roddey
      • Roddey has also been known as:
      • Coates Tavern

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

Newspapers Published in Irwin ...

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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around Irwin.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Irwin, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Irwin.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Irwin:

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