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 Lawson (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 Lawson. 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.
Lawson is located in Spartanburg 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 Spartanburg County: Polk (NC), Rutherford (NC), Cherokee, Greenville, Laurens & Union.
Below are the counties that are near Lawson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lawson:
- Spartanburg County (The home county of Lawson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lawson, with the one closest to Lawson listed first.
- Drayton
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Whitney
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Whitney is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
- Zion Hill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Zion Hill is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion Hill
- Spartanburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hub City Courts
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hub City Courts is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hub City Courts
- Saxon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Saxon is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxon
- Una
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Converse
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Glendale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Arcadia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Johnson City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Johnson City is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
- Southern Shops
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lawson, with the one closest to Lawson listed first.
- Macedonia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Macedonia is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Chesnee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Gaffney
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Gaffney
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Gaffney is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gaffney
- Blacksburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Kings Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Chester County
- Cabal
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cabal is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabal
- Greenville County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lawson, with the one closest to Lawson listed first.
- Greer
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Pelham
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pelham is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Gowensville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gowensville is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowensville
- Five Forks
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Five Forks is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
- Chick Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Chick Springs is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
- O'Neal
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- O'Neal is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neal
- East Gate Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- East Gate Village is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gate Village
- Taylors
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Woodland Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Highland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Highland is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Wade Hampton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Wade Hampton is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wade Hampton
- Fountain Inn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Laurens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lawson, with the one closest to Lawson listed first.
- Tylersville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Tylersville is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
- Gray Court
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Green Pond
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Green Pond is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lawson, with the one closest to Lawson listed first.
- Jonesville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Colerain
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Colerain is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
- Bonham
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bonham is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
- Buffalo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kelly
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kelly is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
- Bailey Town ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bailey Town is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
- Bishop Town ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bishop Town is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
- Union
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sedalia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sedalia is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
- Lockhart
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Meador ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Meador is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lawson, with the one closest to Lawson listed first.
- Hopewell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Hopewell is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Hickory Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Smyrna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cleveland County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lawson, with the one closest to Lawson listed first.
- Byersville ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Byersville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byersville
- Cliffside
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cliffside is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffside
- Erwinsville ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Erwinsville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erwinsville
- Flint Hill ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Flint Hill is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Hill
- Boiling Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Mooresboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mooresboro is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooresboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
- Earl
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Earl is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earl
- Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
- Sharon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sharon is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Brittain Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Brittain Village is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brittain Village
- Lattimore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lattimore is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lattimore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 454 people
- Patterson Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Patterson Springs is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 628 people
- Dover
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dover is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Henderson County (NC)
- Saluda
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Polk County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lawson, with the one closest to Lawson listed first.
- Columbus
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tryon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lynn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lynn is located in Polk County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Mill Spring
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Melrose
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Melrose is located in Polk County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Rutherford County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lawson, with the one closest to Lawson listed first.
- Harris
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Harris is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Holly Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Holly Springs is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Henrietta
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Henrietta is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Caroleen
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Caroleen is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caroleen
- Sandy Mush
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Sandy Mush is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Mush
- Shiloh
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Shiloh is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Six Points
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Six Points is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Points
- Alexander Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Alexander Mills is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Mills
- Forest City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bakersville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bakersville is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
- Concord
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Concord is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Ellenboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lawson, see our County-by-County Page for Lawson.
Cemeteries Near Lawson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lawson.
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 Lawson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lawson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lawson, with the one closest to Lawson listed first.
- Liberty Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Greenlawn Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Sunset Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Lincoln Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Magnola Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Arkwright Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cemetery Hill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Old City Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old City Cemetery
- The Old City Cemetery has also been known as:
- Freemans Cemetery
- New Colored Cemetery
- Seay Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Arrowood Baptist Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Clifton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (449 more) ...
- Cedar Spring Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Spring Cemetery
- The Cedar Spring Cemetery has also been known as:
- Barnett Cemetery
- Cedar Spring Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2328569 <2>
- Bagwell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Glendale Methodist Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
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 Lawson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Lawson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lawson, with the one closest to Lawson listed first.
- Whitney
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Whitney is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
- Spartanburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Glendale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Converse
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Fairforest
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Clifton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cowpens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Golightly
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Golightly is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golightly
- Mount Zion
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Mount Zion is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Campton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Campton is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campton
- Moore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pacolet
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Inman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wellford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Walnut Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- 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 Lawson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lawson.
Newspapers Published in Lawson ...
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 Lawson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lawson, there are papers which were published within 6 miles [9.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lawson.
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 Lawson:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Spartanburg County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cherokee County
- Chester County
- Greenville County
- Laurens County
- Union County
- York County
- Cleveland County
- Henderson County
- Polk County
- Rutherford County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for South Carolina
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 Lawson, 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- Lawson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |