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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 Raintree (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 Raintree. 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.

Raintree 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 Raintree. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Raintree:

  • Spartanburg County     (The home county of Raintree)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raintree, with the one closest to Raintree listed first.
    • Franklin Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Franklin Village is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Village
    • Arcadia
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Hub City Courts
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Hub City Courts is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hub City Courts
    • Roebuck
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Johnson City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Johnson City is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
    • Saxon
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Saxon is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxon
    • Una
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Spartanburg
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Fairforest
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Southern Shops
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Drayton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Brookside Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Brookside Village is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside Village
  • Anderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raintree, with the one closest to Raintree listed first.
    • Powderville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Powderville is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderville
    • Piedmont
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raintree, with the one closest to Raintree listed first.
    • Macedonia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Macedonia is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
    • Chesnee
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Gaffney
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • East Gaffney
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • East Gaffney is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gaffney
    • Blacksburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Greenville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raintree, with the one closest to Raintree listed first.
    • Greer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Greer is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,316 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Greer <1>
    • Pelham
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Pelham is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
    • Five Forks
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Five Forks is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
    • Chick Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Chick Springs is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
    • Woodland Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • East Gate Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • East Gate Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gate Village
    • O'Neal
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • O'Neal is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neal
    • Taylors
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Gowensville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Gowensville is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowensville
    • Fountain Inn
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Simpsonville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Wade Hampton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Wade Hampton is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wade Hampton
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raintree, with the one closest to Raintree listed first.
    • Gray Court
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Tylersville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
    • Green Pond
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Green Pond is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
    • Laurens
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raintree, with the one closest to Raintree listed first.
    • Colerain
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Colerain is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
    • Jonesville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Bonham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Bonham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
    • Buffalo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Kelly
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Kelly is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
    • Bishop Town ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
    • Union
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Bailey Town ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Bailey Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
    • Sedalia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Sedalia is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
    • Lockhart
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • York County
    • Hopewell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Hopewell is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
  • Cleveland County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raintree, with the one closest to Raintree listed first.
    • Byersville ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Byersville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byersville
    • Cliffside
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cliffside is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffside
    • Erwinsville ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Erwinsville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erwinsville
    • Flint Hill ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Flint Hill is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Hill
    • Boiling Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Henderson County (NC)
    • Saluda
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Saluda is located in Henderson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saluda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 703 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saluda <1>
  • Polk County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raintree, with the one closest to Raintree listed first.
    • Tryon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Tryon is located in Polk County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,635 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tryon <1>
    • Lynn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Lynn is located in Polk County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
    • Columbus
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mill Spring
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Melrose
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Melrose is located in Polk County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
  • Rutherford County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raintree, with the one closest to Raintree listed first.
    • Harris
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Harris is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
    • Holly Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Holly Springs is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
    • Henrietta
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Henrietta is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
    • Shiloh
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Shiloh is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Caroleen
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Caroleen is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caroleen
    • Sandy Mush
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Sandy Mush is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Mush
    • Alexander Mills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Alexander Mills is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Mills
    • Six Points
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Six Points is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Points
    • Forest City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Bakersville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Bakersville is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
    • Spindale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Spindale is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spindale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,175 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spindale <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Raintree ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Raintree.

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

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

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

  • Nazareth Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Seay Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Arkwright Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Magnola Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Mosse Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Cemetery Hill
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Old City Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old City Cemetery
    • The Old City Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Freemans Cemetery
    • New Colored Cemetery
  • Jones Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Ft. Prince Memorial Gardens
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Penney - McMillian Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (441 more) ...
    • Lee Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Cedar Spring Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Greenlawn Memorial Gardens
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)

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>

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

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

  • Fairforest
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Spartanburg
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Moore
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Whitney
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Whitney is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
  • Mount Zion
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Zion is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
  • Golightly
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Golightly is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golightly
  • Switzer
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Switzer is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Switzer
  • Wellford
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Reidville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Glendale
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Campton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Campton is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campton
  • Walnut Grove
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Walnut Grove is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Converse
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Duncan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Glenn Springs
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Glenn Springs is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenn Springs

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

Newspapers Published in Raintree ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Raintree.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Raintree, there are papers which were published within 7 miles [11.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Raintree.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Raintree:

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 Raintree, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Raintree) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.