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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 Owens Crossroad (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 Owens Crossroad. 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.

Name Variations for Owens Crossroad ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

  • A typical abbreviation for Owens Crossroad: Owens Xrd.
  • While the name of this community is Owens Crossroad, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Owens Crossroad may originally have been Owen's Crossroad.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Owens Crossroad might be written as Owen Crossroad.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Owens Crossroad is located in Barnwell 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 Barnwell County: Burke (GA), Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg & Orangeburg.

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

  • Barnwell County     (The home county of Owens Crossroad)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owens Crossroad, with the one closest to Owens Crossroad listed first.
    • Kline
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Barnwell
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Snelling
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Snelling is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snelling
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Hilda
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hattieville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Hattieville is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hattieville
    • Elko
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Elko is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elko <2>
    • Reynold
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Reynold is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynold
    • Blackville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Williston
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Whaley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Whaley is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
  • Aiken County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owens Crossroad, with the one closest to Owens Crossroad listed first.
    • Hawthorne ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Hawthorne is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne
    • Bush ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Bush is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
    • Windsor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • New Ellenton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Talatha
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Talatha is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talatha
    • Cowden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Cowden is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowden
    • Jackson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Oakwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Oakwood is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
    • Salley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Kathwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Kathwood is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kathwood
    • Montmorenci
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Kitchings Mill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Kitchings Mill is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitchings Mill
      • Kitchings Mill has also been known as:
      • Kinchens Mill
    • Browns Hill ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Browns Hill is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Hill
  • Allendale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owens Crossroad, with the one closest to Owens Crossroad listed first.
    • Martin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Ulmer
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Allendale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sycamore
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Fairfax
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Bamberg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owens Crossroad, with the one closest to Owens Crossroad listed first.
    • Olar
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Olar is located in Bamberg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olar <2>
    • Govan
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Govan is located in Bamberg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Govan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
    • Denmark
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Ehrhardt
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Bamberg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
  • Colleton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owens Crossroad, with the one closest to Owens Crossroad listed first.
    • Ashton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Ashton is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
    • Lodge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • Hampton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owens Crossroad, with the one closest to Owens Crossroad listed first.
    • Brunson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Gifford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Pond Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Pond Town is located in Hampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Town
    • Crocketville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Luray
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Miley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Hampton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Varnville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Estill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Orangeburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owens Crossroad, with the one closest to Owens Crossroad listed first.
    • Springfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Norway
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cope
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cope is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cope
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 70 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cope <2>
    • Neeses
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Burke County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owens Crossroad, with the one closest to Owens Crossroad listed first.
    • Girard
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Girard is located in Burke County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 150 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Girard <2>
    • Sardis
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Sardis is located in Burke County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 970 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sardis <2>
  • Screven County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owens Crossroad, with the one closest to Owens Crossroad listed first.
    • Millhaven
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Millhaven is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millhaven
    • Hilltonia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Hilltonia is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltonia
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 262 people
    • Hiltonia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Owens Crossroad ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Owens Crossroad.

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 Owens Crossroad - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Holmes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Woods Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Walker Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Seven Pines Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Dunbar Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Furse Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Lebanon Christian Church Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Singleton Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Hope Memorial Park
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • County Memory Gardens
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (180 more) ...
    • Sanders Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Concord Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Williams Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 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.<4>

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

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

  • Snelling
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Snelling is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snelling
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
  • Dunbarton ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Dunbarton is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbarton
  • Allendale
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Ulmer
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Ashleigh
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ashleigh is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashleigh
  • Hattieville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Hattieville is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hattieville
  • Sycamore
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Govan
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Govan is located in Bamberg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Govan
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
  • Robbins ‑ Historic
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Robbins is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins
  • Blackville
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Reynold
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Reynold is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynold
  • Elko
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Elko is located in Barnwell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elko <2>
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Greenland ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Greenland is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenland
    • Fairfax
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Williston
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Owens Crossroad ...

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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Owens Crossroad.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Owens Crossroad, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Owens Crossroad.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Owens Crossroad:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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 Owens Crossroad, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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- Owens Crossroad) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.