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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 Lanford (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 Lanford. 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 hospitals and 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.

Lanford is located in Laurens 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 Laurens County: Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Newberry, Spartanburg & Union.

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

  • Laurens County     (The home county of Lanford)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lanford, with the one closest to Lanford listed first.
    • Tylersville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
    • Gray Court
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Laurens
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Clinton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Green Pond
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Green Pond is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
    • Lisbon ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Lisbon is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Dover ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Dover is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
    • Simpson ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Simpson is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
    • Cold Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Cold Point is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Point
    • Renno
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Renno is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renno
    • Ekom
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ekom is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekom
    • Joanna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Abbeville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lanford, with the one closest to Lanford listed first.
    • Ware Shoals
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Donalds
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Honea Path
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Anderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lanford, with the one closest to Lanford listed first.
    • Pelzer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Piedmont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • West Pelzer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • West Pelzer is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pelzer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 953 people
    • Williamston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Belton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Greenville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lanford, with the one closest to Lanford listed first.
    • Fountain Inn
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Simpsonville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Five Forks
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Five Forks is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
    • Woodland Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Fork Shoals
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Fork Shoals is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fork Shoals
    • Lickville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Lickville is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickville
    • Mauldin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Mauldin is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauldin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,562 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mauldin <1>
    • Pelham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Pelham is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
    • Conestee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • East Gate Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • East Gate Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gate Village
    • Greer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Greer is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,316 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Greer <1>
    • Chick Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Chick Springs is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
  • Greenwood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lanford, with the one closest to Lanford listed first.
    • Coronaca
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Coronaca is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coronaca
    • Cokesbury
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Cokesbury is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cokesbury
    • Hodges
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Newberry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lanford, with the one closest to Lanford listed first.
    • Whitmire
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Mudlick
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Mudlick is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mudlick
    • Smyrna
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Helena
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Helena is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
  • Spartanburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lanford, with the one closest to Lanford listed first.
    • Enoree
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Cross Anchor
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Woodruff
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Crescent
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Crescent is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Moore
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Green Pond
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Green Pond is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
    • Pauline
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Roebuck
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Reidville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Brookside Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Brookside Village is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside Village
    • Camp Croft
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Camp Croft is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Croft
    • White Stone
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lanford, with the one closest to Lanford listed first.
    • Colerain
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Colerain is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
    • Bishop Town ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
    • Sedalia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Sedalia is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
    • Buffalo
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Union
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Bonham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bonham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
    • Jonesville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Red Town ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Red Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Town
    • Delta
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Delta is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
    • Kelly
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Kelly is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
    • Sartor Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Sartor Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartor Town
    • Meador ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Meador is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador

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

Cemeteries Near Lanford ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lanford.

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

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

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

  • Lanford Baptist Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Warrior Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Martin Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Sandy Springs Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Cedar Shoals Baptist Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Bramlett Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Greenhaven Memorial Gardens
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • New Hope Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Garrett Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Langston Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Yarboroughs Chapel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • New Bethel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (361 more) ...
    • Wrights Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Friendship Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Cheek Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)

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

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

  • Enoree
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Hillsville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Hillsville is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsville
  • Ora
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Ora is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
  • Tylersville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
  • Hobbyville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hobbyville is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobbyville
  • Cross Anchor
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Evinsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Evinsville is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evinsville
  • Barksdale
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Barksdale is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barksdale
  • Gray Court
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Woodruff
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Owings
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Owings is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owings
  • Dutchman
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Dutchman is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchman
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Cross Keys
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Cross Keys is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
    • Colerain
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Colerain is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
    • Walnut Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Walnut Grove is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove

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

Newspapers Published in Lanford ...

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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lanford.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lanford, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lanford.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Lanford:

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