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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 Java (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 Java. 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 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.

Java is located in Florence 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 Florence County: Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Lee, Marion, Marlboro & Williamsburg.

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

  • Florence County     (The home county of Java)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Java, with the one closest to Java listed first.
    • Tara Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Tara Village is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tara Village
    • Park City
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Park City is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City
    • Danwood
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Danwood is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danwood
    • Siesta Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Siesta Village is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siesta Village
    • Effingham
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Florence
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Ebenezer
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Ebenezer is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
    • Quinby
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Jones Crossroads
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jones Crossroads is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Crossroads
    • Mars Bluff
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Mars Bluff is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Bluff
    • Cusac Crossroads
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Cusac Crossroads is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cusac Crossroads
    • Coward
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Friendfield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Friendfield is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendfield
  • Clarendon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Java, with the one closest to Java listed first.
    • Turbeville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • New Zion
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Union Crossroads
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Union Crossroads is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Crossroads
    • Sardinia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Gable
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Darlington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Java, with the one closest to Java listed first.
    • Palmetto
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Palmetto is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
    • Alexander Crossroads
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Alexander Crossroads is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Crossroads
    • Pine Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Pine Village is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
    • Darlington
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Syracuse
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Syracuse is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Syracuse
    • Philadelphia ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Philadelphia is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Lamar
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Mont Clare
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Mont Clare is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Clare
    • Dovesville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Dovesville is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovesville
    • Lydia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Hartsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • North Hartsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • North Hartsville is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hartsville
    • Prestwood Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Prestwood Village is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prestwood Village
  • Dillon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Java, with the one closest to Java listed first.
    • Latta
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Floydale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Fork
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Dillon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Horry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Java, with the one closest to Java listed first.
    • Galivants Ferry
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Red Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Red Hill is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Java, with the one closest to Java listed first.
    • Lynchburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Atkins
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Atkins is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Elliott
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Alcot
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Alcot is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcot
    • Bishopville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Java, with the one closest to Java listed first.
    • Laughlin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Laughlin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laughlin
    • Tabernacle
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Tabernacle is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabernacle
    • Sellers
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Marion
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Centenary
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Gresham
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Rains
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Mullins
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Marlboro County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Java, with the one closest to Java listed first.
    • Brownsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Brownsville is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
    • Drake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Drake is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake
    • Blenheim
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Sumter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Java, with the one closest to Java listed first.
    • Hobbs Crossroads
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Hobbs Crossroads is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobbs Crossroads
    • Shiloh
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Shiloh is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Mayesville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Williamsburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Java, with the one closest to Java listed first.
    • Moore Crossroads
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Moore Crossroads is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Crossroads
    • Terrell Crossroad
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Terrell Crossroad is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrell Crossroad
    • Cades
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Indiantown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Indiantown is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiantown
    • Hemingway
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Stuckey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Stuckey is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stuckey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people

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

Cemeteries Near Java ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Java.

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

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

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

  • Howe Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • McLaughlin Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Hewitt Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Burch Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Hillside FWB Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Carter's Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Turner Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Garden of Memories Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • McPherson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Cumberland UMC Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Florence National Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Mt. Hope Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (310 more) ...

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

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

  • Howe
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Howe is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howe
  • Effingham
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Florence
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Ebenezer
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Ebenezer is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
  • Claussen
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Claussen is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claussen
  • Mars Bluff
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Mars Bluff is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Bluff
  • Palmetto
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Palmetto is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
  • Coward
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Friendfield
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Friendfield is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendfield
  • Timmonsville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Sardis
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Sardis is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
  • Hyman
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Hyman is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyman
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Scranton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Syracuse
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Syracuse is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Syracuse
    • Philadelphia ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Philadelphia is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia

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

Newspapers Published in Java ...

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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Java.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Java, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Java.

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 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 Java:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Java) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Java, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.