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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 Princeton (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 Princeton. 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 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.

Princeton is primarily located in Laurens County. A portion of Princeton extends into Greenville 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 Princeton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Princeton:

  • Laurens County     (The home county of Princeton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Princeton, with the one closest to Princeton listed first.
    • Mount Gallagher
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Mount Gallagher is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gallagher
    • Simpson ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Simpson is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
    • Green Pond
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Green Pond is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
    • Ekom
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Ekom is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekom
    • Gray Court
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Cold Point
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Cold Point is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Point
    • Laurens
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Collins Lakeside Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Waterloo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lisbon ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Lisbon is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Mountville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Cross Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Tylersville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
  • Abbeville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Princeton, with the one closest to Princeton listed first.
    • Honea Path
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ware Shoals
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Donalds
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Due West
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Level Land
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Level Land is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Land
    • Antreville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Antreville is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antreville
    • Abbeville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Lake Secession
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Lake Secession is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Secession
    • Cana ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Cana is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cana
    • Monterey ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Monterey is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
    • Lowndesville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Latimer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Latimer is located in Abbeville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latimer
  • Anderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Princeton, with the one closest to Princeton listed first.
    • Belton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Pelzer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Williamston
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • West Pelzer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • West Pelzer is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pelzer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 953 people
    • Piedmont
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Anderson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Caldwell Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Caldwell Village is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caldwell Village
    • Anderson Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Anderson Village is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson Village
    • Homeland Park
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Homeland Park is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homeland Park
    • Powderville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Powderville is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderville
    • Deans
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Deans is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deans
    • Northlake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Northlake is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northlake
    • Centerville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Centerville is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
  • Greenville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Princeton, with the one closest to Princeton listed first.
    • Fork Shoals
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Fork Shoals is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fork Shoals
    • Lickville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Lickville is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickville
    • Fountain Inn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Simpsonville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Woodland Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Golden Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Golden Grove is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Grove
    • Conestee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Mauldin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Five Forks
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Five Forks is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
    • Gantt
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Gantt is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantt
    • Pine Hill Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Pine Hill Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Hill Village
    • Dunean
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Dunean is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunean
    • White Horse
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • White Horse is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Horse
  • Greenwood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Princeton, with the one closest to Princeton listed first.
    • Hodges
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Cokesbury
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Cokesbury is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cokesbury
    • Coronaca
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Coronaca is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coronaca
    • Greenwood Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Greenwood Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Village
    • Grendel Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Grendel Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grendel Village
    • Greenwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Panola Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Panola Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola Village
    • Mathews Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Mathews Village is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mathews Village
    • Promised Land
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Promised Land is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promised Land
    • Fairforest
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairforest is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairforest
    • Verdery
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Verdery is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verdery
    • Ninety Six
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Springdale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Springdale is located in Greenwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
  • Newberry County
    • Mudlick
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Mudlick is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mudlick
  • Pickens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Princeton, with the one closest to Princeton listed first.
    • Easley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Liberty
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Spartanburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Princeton, with the one closest to Princeton listed first.
    • Crescent
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Crescent is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Enoree
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Woodruff
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Green Pond
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Green Pond is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
    • Cross Anchor
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Reidville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Moore
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Princeton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Princeton.

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

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

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

  • Princeton Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Gaines Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Traynham Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Columbia Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Mt. Bethel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • New Prospect Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Broadmouth Baptist Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Henderson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Lebanon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Cooley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • East View Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Daventon Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (303 more) ...
    • Oak Hill Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Friendship Baptist Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Honea Path Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)

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.<2>

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

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

  • Brewerton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Brewerton is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewerton
  • Honea Path
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Donalds
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Lickville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Lickville is located in Greenville County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickville
  • Mount Gallagher
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Gallagher is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gallagher
  • Toney Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Toney Creek is located in Anderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toney Creek
  • Fork Shoals
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Fork Shoals is located in Greenville County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fork Shoals
  • Ekom
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Ekom is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekom
  • Belton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Due West
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Woodville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodville is located in Greenville County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
  • Barksdale
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Barksdale is located in Laurens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barksdale
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Gray Court
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Owings
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Owings is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owings
    • Pelzer
      (13 miles [20.9 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 Princeton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Princeton.

Newspapers Published in Princeton ...

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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Princeton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Princeton, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Princeton.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Princeton:

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>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 Princeton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Princeton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.