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 Little Chicago (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 Little Chicago. 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 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.
Little Chicago 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 Little Chicago. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Little Chicago:
- Spartanburg County (The home county of Little Chicago)
- The following are listed by their distance from Little Chicago, with the one closest to Little Chicago listed first.
- Gramling
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Inman Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Inman Mills is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inman Mills
- Campobello
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Inman
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Landrum
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Duncan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Lyman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wellford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Startex
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Boiling Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Fingerville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brookside Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brookside Village is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside Village
- Southern Shops
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Little Chicago, with the one closest to Little Chicago listed first.
- Powderville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Powderville is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderville
- Piedmont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Little Chicago, with the one closest to Little Chicago listed first.
- Chesnee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Macedonia
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Macedonia is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Gaffney
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Greenville County
- The following are listed by their distance from Little Chicago, with the one closest to Little Chicago listed first.
- Gowensville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gowensville is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowensville
- O'Neal
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- O'Neal is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neal
- Greer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Highland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Highland is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Chick Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chick Springs is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
- Tigerville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Taylors
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Merrittsville ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Merrittsville is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrittsville
- East Gate Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- East Gate Village is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gate Village
- Wade Hampton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wade Hampton is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wade Hampton
- Pelham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Pelham is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Paris
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Paris is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Travelers Rest
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Laurens County
- Green Pond
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Green Pond is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
- Pickens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Little Chicago, with the one closest to Little Chicago listed first.
- Dacusville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dacusville is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dacusville
- Easley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Knob ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Knob is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
- Arial
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Arial is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arial
- Cleveland County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Little Chicago, with the one closest to Little Chicago listed first.
- Byersville ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Byersville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byersville
- Cliffside
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cliffside is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffside
- Henderson County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Little Chicago, with the one closest to Little Chicago listed first.
- Saluda
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tuxedo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Zirconia
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Baxter
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Baxter is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
- Claremont
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Claremont is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
- Upward
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Upward is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upward
- East Flat Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Flat Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Olive
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Olive is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Dana
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dana is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Barker Heights
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Barker Heights is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Heights
- Hendersonville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Valley Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Valley Hill is located in Henderson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Hill
- Polk County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Little Chicago, with the one closest to Little Chicago listed first.
- Tryon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lynn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Lynn is located in Polk County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Columbus
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Melrose
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Melrose is located in Polk County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Mill Spring
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Rutherford County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Little Chicago, with the one closest to Little Chicago listed first.
- Holly Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Holly Springs is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Harris
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Harris is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Shiloh
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shiloh is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Bakersville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bakersville is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
- Rutherfordton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy Mush
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy Mush is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Mush
- Green Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Green Hill is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Alexander Mills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Alexander Mills is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Mills
- Forest City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Henrietta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Henrietta is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Ruth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ruth is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
- Spindale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Caroleen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Caroleen is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caroleen
- Transylvania County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Little Chicago, with the one closest to Little Chicago listed first.
- Cedar Mountain
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Penrose
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Seven Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Seven Springs is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Springs
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Little Chicago, see our County-by-County Page for Little Chicago.
Cemeteries Near Little Chicago ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Little Chicago.
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 Little Chicago - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Little Chicago covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Little Chicago, with the one closest to Little Chicago listed first.
- Gramling UMC Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Lebanon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Liberty Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Roselawn Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Gowansville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Washington Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Fews Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bartons Memorial Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mosteller Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (415 more) ...
- Rector Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Zoar Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Evergreen Memorial Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Little Chicago in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Little Chicago.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Little Chicago, with the one closest to Little Chicago listed first.
- Andover ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Andover is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
- Tyger ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Tyger is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyger
- Campobello
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gowensville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gowensville is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowensville
- Mitchell ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mitchell is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Inman
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- O'Neal
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- O'Neal is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neal
- Campton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Campton is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campton
- Landrum
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Taho ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Taho is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taho
- Greer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Duncan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Wellford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Glassy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Glassy is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glassy
- Highland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Highland is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Little Chicago. See our List of 1890's Communities around Little Chicago.
Newspapers Published in Little Chicago ...
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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Little Chicago.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Little Chicago, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Little Chicago.
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 either 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 Little Chicago:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Spartanburg County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Cherokee County
- Greenville County
- Laurens County
- Pickens County
- Cleveland County
- Henderson County
- Polk County
- Rutherford County
- Transylvania 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> | 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- Little Chicago) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Little Chicago, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |