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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 Leo (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 Leo. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.

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

  • Florence County     (The home county of Leo)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leo, with the one closest to Leo listed first.
    • Hannah
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Hannah is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hannah
    • Wren Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Wren Village is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren Village
    • Lake City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Johnsonville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Scranton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Friendfield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Friendfield is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendfield
    • Pamplico
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Coward
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Salem
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Salem is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
    • Effingham
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Cusac Crossroads
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Cusac Crossroads is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cusac Crossroads
    • Danwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Danwood is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danwood
  • Clarendon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leo, with the one closest to Leo listed first.
    • Union Crossroads
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Union Crossroads is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Crossroads
    • New Zion
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Turbeville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Sardinia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Gable
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Darlington County
    • Alexander Crossroads
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Alexander Crossroads is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Crossroads
  • Georgetown County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leo, with the one closest to Leo listed first.
    • Allentown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Allentown is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allentown
    • Carters Crossroads
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Carters Crossroads is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carters Crossroads
    • Willie Towne
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Willie Towne is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willie Towne
    • Andrews
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
  • Horry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leo, with the one closest to Leo listed first.
    • Red Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Red Hill is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
    • Brownway
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Brownway is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownway
    • Aynor
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Galivants Ferry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cool Spring
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Cool Spring is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool Spring
    • Port Harrelson ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Port Harrelson is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Harrelson
  • Lee County
    • Lynchburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leo, with the one closest to Leo listed first.
    • Gresham
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Tabernacle
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Tabernacle is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabernacle
    • Centenary
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Rains
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Laughlin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Laughlin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laughlin
    • Marion
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Sumter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leo, with the one closest to Leo listed first.
    • Hobbs Crossroads
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hobbs Crossroads is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobbs Crossroads
    • Shiloh
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Shiloh is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
  • Williamsburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leo, with the one closest to Leo listed first.
    • Indiantown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Indiantown is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiantown
    • Stuckey
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Stuckey is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stuckey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
    • Cades
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Hemingway
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Moore Crossroads
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Moore Crossroads is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Crossroads
    • Nesmith
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Terrell Crossroad
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Terrell Crossroad is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrell Crossroad
    • Rome
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Rome is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
    • Kingstree
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Snow Town
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Snow Town is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Town
    • Salters
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Lane
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lane is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lane
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 443 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lane <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Leo ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Leo.

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

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

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

  • Leo Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Ninevah UMC Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Browns Chapel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Brown Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Gaskins Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Hanna Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Powell Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Carter Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • New Prospect FWB Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Gaskins Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Turner Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Lee Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (233 more) ...
    • Sandhill Memorial Park
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • E.V. Gaskins Family Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Gaskin Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 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.<5>

While we didn't find Leo in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Leo.

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

  • Hannah
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hannah is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hannah
  • Indiantown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Indiantown is located in Williamsburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiantown
  • Blossom
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Blossom is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blossom
  • Lake City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Johnsonville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Scranton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Cades
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Fowler
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Fowler is located in Williamsburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fowler
  • Friendfield
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Friendfield is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendfield
  • Bostick
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Bostick is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bostick
  • Hyman
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Hyman is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyman
  • Coward
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Kingstree
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Morrisville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Morrisville is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisville
    • Rome
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Rome is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome

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

Newspapers Published in Leo ...

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 17 newspapers that have been published in the area around Leo.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Leo, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Leo.

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 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 Leo:

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>To help visualize the location of the cemetery, we've drawn a straight line between the communities of Lake City and Johnsonville. The cemetery can be found near that line and roughly halfway between the two communities. Remember that this is just an approximate location.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Leo) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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.
<5>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 Leo, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.