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 Lexington (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 Lexington. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Lexington is located in Lexington County and is the County Seat.
To see how the shape of South Carolina's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Lexington County: Aiken, Calhoun, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland & Saluda.
Below are the counties that are near Lexington. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lexington:
- Lexington County (The home county of Lexington)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Red Bank
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Red Bank have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Red Bank is located in Lexington County
- Arthur
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Arthur. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
- Arthur is located in Lexington County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Arthur
- From Lexington to Arthur
- Oak Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oak Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Oak Grove is located in Lexington County
- Springdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Irmo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Seven Oaks
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- South Congaree
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Congaree have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Congaree
- South Congaree is located in Lexington County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,485 people
- Styx ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Styx have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Styx
- Styx is located in Lexington County
- Pineridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cayce
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- West Columbia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Gilbert
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clubhouse Crossroads
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Aiken County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Seivern
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wagener
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Monetta
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Perry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Camp Rawls
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Salley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Fairfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Rock Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Jenkinsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Rion
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Monticello
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Smallwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Winnsboro Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Winnsboro Mills have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnsboro Mills
- Winnsboro Mills is located in Fairfield County
- Ridgeway
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Winnsboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Kershaw County
- Elgin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lancaster County
- Springdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Newberry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Little Mountain
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Peak
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Slighs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pomaria
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Prosperity
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Union
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sondleys ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sondleys have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sondleys
- Sondleys is located in Newberry County
- Newberry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Glymphville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Orangeburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Woodford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Woodford. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Woodford is located in Orangeburg County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 169 people
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Woodford
- From Lexington to Woodford
- North
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Livingston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Livingston have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livingston
- Livingston is located in Orangeburg County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 124 people
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Saint Andrews
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Andrews have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Andrews
- Saint Andrews is located in Richland County
- Ballentine
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Lake Murray of Richland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dutch Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dutch Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutch Village
- Dutch Village is located in Richland County
- Columbia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- White Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hollywood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Arthurtown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Belmont
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Brickyard Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brickyard Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickyard Village
- Brickyard Village is located in Richland County
- Forest Acres
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Valencia Heights
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Valencia Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valencia Heights
- Valencia Heights is located in Richland County
- Ravenwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Saluda County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Ridge Spring
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Hickory Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Ward
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Saluda
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lexington, see our County-by-County Page for Lexington.
Cemeteries Near Lexington ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lexington.
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.
If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lexington covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- George Gross Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the George Gross Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the George Gross Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- St. Paul Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pisgah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pisgah Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pisgah Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Taylor Justice Graveyard
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Emmanuel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Emmanuel Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Emmanuel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Southland Memorial Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Southland Memorial Gardens
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Southland Memorial Gardens have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Celestial Memorial Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Celestial Memorial Gardens
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Celestial Memorial Gardens have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Mt. Hermon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Hermon Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Hermon Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Mt. Hebron UMC Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bush River Memorial Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bethany Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bethany Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bethany Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Continue List (338 more) ...
- St. Andrews Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Andrews Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Andrews Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Lower Pine Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lower Pine Grove Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lower Pine Grove Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Upper Pine Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Upper Pine Grove Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Upper Pine Grove Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
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 Lexington in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Lexington.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Spring Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Spring Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Spring Hill is located in Lexington County
- Arthur
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Arthur. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
- Arthur is located in Lexington County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Arthur
- From Lexington to Arthur
- Leaphart
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Leaphart have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leaphart
- Leaphart is located in Lexington County
- Irmo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pineridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ballentine
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cayce
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Summit
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Summit have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Summit is located in Lexington County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 486 people
- White Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Columbia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Ella
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ella. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ella
- Ella is located in Lexington County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Ella
- From Lexington to Ella
- Fredonia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fredonia. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Fredonia is located in Lexington County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Fredonia
- From Lexington to Fredonia
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Gaston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bookman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bookman have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bookman
- Bookman is located in Richland County
- Chapin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lexington. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lexington.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Lexington ...
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 20 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lexington.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Lexington. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Lexington and those printed in the larger area surrounding Lexington.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<6> of Lexington.
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 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 Lexington:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Lexington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Aiken County
- Fairfield County
- Kershaw County
- Lancaster County
- Newberry County
- Orangeburg County
- Richland County
- Saluda County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for South Carolina
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Lexington: www.lexsc.com/
The official website for Lexington County: www.lex-co.com/
The official website for State of South Carolina: https://sc.gov/
Footnotes ...
<1> | The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required. |
<2> | An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace. |
<3> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
<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 Lexington, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
<6> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Lexington) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Lexington. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 33.9812, Longitude: -81.2359 |