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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 Leeds (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 Leeds. 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 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.

Leeds is located in Chester 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 Chester County: Fairfield, Lancaster, Union & York.

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

  • Chester County     (The home county of Leeds)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leeds, with the one closest to Leeds listed first.
    • Gayle Mill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Gayle Mill is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayle Mill
    • Chester
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cornwell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Cornwell is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwell
    • Cabal
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Cabal is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabal
    • Eureka Mill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Eureka Mill is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Mill
    • Blackstock
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Lowrys
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Lowrys is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowrys
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
    • Smith
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Smith is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
    • Richburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Edgemoor
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Lando
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Fort Lawn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Great Falls
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Cherokee County
  • Fairfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leeds, with the one closest to Leeds listed first.
    • Blair
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Woodward
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodward is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodward
    • Monticello
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Monticello is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
    • White Oak
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Adger
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Adger is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adger
    • Winnsboro
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Jenkinsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Winnsboro Mills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Winnsboro Mills is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnsboro Mills
    • Mitford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Mitford is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitford
    • Rock Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Rock Hill is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Hill
    • Rion
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leeds, with the one closest to Leeds listed first.
    • Renno
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Renno is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renno
    • Dover ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Dover is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
    • Joanna
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Kinards
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Clinton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Tylersville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
  • Newberry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leeds, with the one closest to Leeds listed first.
    • Whitmire
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Glymphville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Glymphville is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glymphville
    • Sondleys ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Sondleys is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sondleys
    • Pomaria
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Union
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Union is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Peak
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Peak is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peak
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Peak <1>
    • Helena
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Helena is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
    • Newberry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Little Mountain
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Slighs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Slighs is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slighs
    • Prosperity
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Smyrna
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Spartanburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leeds, with the one closest to Leeds listed first.
    • Cross Anchor
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Central Pacolet
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Central Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Pacolet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Pacolet
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacolet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,604 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pacolet <1>
    • Pacolet Mills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Pauline
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • White Stone
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leeds, with the one closest to Leeds listed first.
    • Carlisle
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Meador ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Meador is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
    • Tuckertown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Tuckertown is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckertown
    • Red Town ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Red Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Town
    • Lockhart
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Delta
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Delta is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
    • Sartor Town
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Sartor Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartor Town
    • Bailey Town ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Bailey Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
    • Union
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Bonham
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bonham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
    • Kelly
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Kelly is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
    • Buffalo
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Bishop Town ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
  • York County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leeds, with the one closest to Leeds listed first.
    • Blairsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Blairsville is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
    • McConnells
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Hopewell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Hopewell is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
    • Sharon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Hickory Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • York
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Smyrna
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Rock Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Filbert
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Filbert is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filbert
    • Lesslie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Lesslie is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lesslie
    • Newport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Newport is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
    • Roddey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Roddey is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roddey
      • Roddey has also been known as:
      • Coates Tavern

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

Cemeteries Near Leeds ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Leeds.

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

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

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

  • Fish Dam Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Sweet Hope Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Glenn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Kellys Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Cool Branch Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Castles - Stevenson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Sims Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Brushy Fork Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Jeter Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Charles Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Dennis Crosby Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (304 more) ...
    • Beaver Creek Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Old Zion Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Cane Creek Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Leeds had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Carlisle
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Sandy River
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Sandy River is located in Chester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy River
  • Baton Rouge
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Baton Rouge is located in Chester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baton Rouge
  • Meador ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Meador is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
  • Santuc
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Santuc is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santuc
  • Ada ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Ada is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ada
  • Herbert
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Herbert is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
  • Wilksburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Wilksburg is located in Chester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilksburg
  • Shelton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Shelton is located in Fairfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelton
  • Feasterville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Feasterville is located in Fairfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Feasterville
  • Delta
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Delta is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
  • Chester
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Goshen Hill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Goshen Hill is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen Hill
    • Lylesford ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Lylesford is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lylesford
    • Cornwell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Cornwell is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwell

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

Newspapers Published in Leeds ...

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 Leeds.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Leeds, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Leeds.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Leeds:

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 Leeds, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Leeds) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.