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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 Lakewood (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 Lakewood. 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 and doctors 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.

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

  • Sumter County     (The home county of Lakewood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lakewood, with the one closest to Lakewood listed first.
    • Ashley Creek Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Ashley Creek Village is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Creek Village
    • Privateer
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Privateer is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privateer
    • Millwood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Millwood is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
    • South Sumter
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • South Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Sumter
    • Sumter
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • East Sumter
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • East Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sumter
    • Cane Savannah
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
    • Mulberry
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Mulberry is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
    • Cherryvale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Cherryvale is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryvale
    • Pinewood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Wedgefield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Oswego
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Oswego is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
    • Dalzell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lakewood, with the one closest to Lakewood listed first.
    • Creston
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Creston is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
    • Saint Matthews
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Cameron
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Cameron is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
  • Clarendon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lakewood, with the one closest to Lakewood listed first.
    • Paxville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Alcolu
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Silver
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Silver is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
    • Panola
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Panola is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
    • Manning
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Gable
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Sardinia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Summerton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Davis Station
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • New Zion
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Jordan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Jordan is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
    • Turbeville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Shad Moss village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Shad Moss village is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shad Moss village
  • Darlington County
    • Lamar
      (27 miles [43.5 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>
  • Florence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lakewood, with the one closest to Lakewood listed first.
    • Olanta
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Cartersville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Cartersville is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Sardis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Sardis is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
    • Timmonsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Kershaw County
    • Spring Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Spring Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Village
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lakewood, with the one closest to Lakewood listed first.
    • Atkins
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Atkins is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Elliott
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Manville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Manville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
    • Lynchburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bishopville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Alcot
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Alcot is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcot
  • Orangeburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lakewood, with the one closest to Lakewood listed first.
    • Elloree
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Parler
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Parler is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parler
    • Santee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Ferguson ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Ferguson is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
    • Vance
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Vance is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vance
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vance <1>
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lakewood, with the one closest to Lakewood listed first.
    • Eastover
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Gadsden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Weston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Weston is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
    • Bruner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Bruner is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
    • Pinewood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Pinewood is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinewood
    • Hopkins
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Williamsburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lakewood, with the one closest to Lakewood listed first.
    • Terrell Crossroad
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Terrell Crossroad is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrell Crossroad
    • Greeleyville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Moore Crossroads
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Moore Crossroads is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Crossroads

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

Cemeteries Near Lakewood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lakewood.

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

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

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

  • Bradford Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Marshall Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Wood Chapel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Hillside Memorial Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Green Acres Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Webb Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Dargon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Sumter Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Wheeler Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Miller Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (172 more) ...
    • Gadson Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Evergreen Memorial Park
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • St. Pauls Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)

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

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

  • Tindal
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Tindal is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tindal
  • Privateer
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Privateer is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privateer
  • Brogdon
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Brogdon is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brogdon
  • Cane Savannah
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
  • Harvin
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Harvin is located in Clarendon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvin
  • Alcolu
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Wedgefield
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Silver
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Silver is located in Clarendon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
  • Oswego
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Oswego is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
  • Mayesville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Panola
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Panola is located in Clarendon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
  • Manning
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Catchall
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Catchall is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catchall
    • Rimini
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Rimini is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rimini
    • Claremont
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Claremont is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont

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

Newspapers Published in Lakewood ...

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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lakewood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lakewood, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lakewood.

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 Lakewood:

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 Lakewood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 from Point A (ie- Lakewood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.