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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 Owings (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 Owings. 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 hospitals 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.

Owings is located in Laurens 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 Laurens County: Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Newberry, Spartanburg & Union.

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

  • Laurens County     (The home county of Owings)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owings, with the one closest to Owings listed first.
    • Gray Court
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Green Pond
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Green Pond is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
    • Simpson ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Simpson is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
    • Laurens
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Tylersville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
    • Princeton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Princeton is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princeton
    • Ekom
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Ekom is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekom
    • Cold Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Cold Point is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Point
    • Mount Gallagher
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Mount Gallagher is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gallagher
    • Lisbon ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Lisbon is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Clinton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Waterloo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
  • Abbeville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owings, with the one closest to Owings listed first.
    • Ware Shoals
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Honea Path
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Donalds
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Due West
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Level Land
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Level Land is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Land
  • Anderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owings, with the one closest to Owings listed first.
    • Pelzer
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Piedmont
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • West Pelzer
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • West Pelzer is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pelzer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 953 people
    • Williamston
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Belton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Powderville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Powderville is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderville
    • Anderson Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Anderson Village is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson Village
    • Anderson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Caldwell Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Caldwell Village is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caldwell Village
  • Greenville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owings, with the one closest to Owings listed first.
    • Fountain Inn
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Fork Shoals
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Fork Shoals is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fork Shoals
    • Simpsonville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodland Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Lickville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Lickville is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickville
    • Five Forks
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Five Forks is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
    • Mauldin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Mauldin is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauldin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,562 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mauldin <1>
    • Conestee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Pelham
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Pelham is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
    • East Gate Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • East Gate Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gate Village
    • Gantt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Gantt is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantt
    • Golden Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Golden Grove is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Grove
  • Greenwood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owings, with the one closest to Owings listed first.
    • Cokesbury
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Cokesbury is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cokesbury
    • Hodges
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Coronaca
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Coronaca is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coronaca
    • Grendel Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Grendel Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grendel Village
    • Greenwood Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Greenwood Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Village
    • Greenwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Newberry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owings, with the one closest to Owings listed first.
    • Mudlick
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Mudlick is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mudlick
    • Whitmire
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Pickens County
    • Easley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Spartanburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owings, with the one closest to Owings listed first.
    • Enoree
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Crescent
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Crescent is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Woodruff
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Green Pond
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Green Pond is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
    • Cross Anchor
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Reidville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Moore
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Roebuck
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Brookside Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Brookside Village is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside Village
    • Startex
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Pauline
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Duncan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Duncan is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,715 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Duncan <1>
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Owings, with the one closest to Owings listed first.
    • Colerain
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Colerain is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
    • Bishop Town ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
    • Sedalia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Sedalia is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
    • Buffalo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Bonham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Bonham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
    • Union
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Jonesville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Owings ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Owings.

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

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

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

  • Gray Court Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Knight Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Dials Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Cheek Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Friendship Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • New Harmony Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Durbin Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Highland Home Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Green Pond Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Garrett Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Wrights Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (354 more) ...

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.<3>

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

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

  • Gray Court
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Barksdale
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Barksdale is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barksdale
  • Fountain Inn
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Ora
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Ora is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
  • Enoree
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Hillsville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Hillsville is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsville
  • Woodruff
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Fork Shoals
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Fork Shoals is located in Greenville County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fork Shoals
  • Simpsonville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Lickville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Lickville is located in Greenville County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickville
  • Princeton
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Princeton is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princeton
  • Tylersville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Hobbyville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Hobbyville is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobbyville
    • Cashville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Cashville is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cashville
    • Ekom
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Ekom is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekom

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

Newspapers Published in Owings ...

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 11 newspapers that have been published in the area around Owings.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Owings, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Owings.

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 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 Owings:

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>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.
<3>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 Owings, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Owings) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.