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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 Raynell (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 Raynell. 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 and doctors 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.

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

  • Spartanburg County     (The home county of Raynell)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raynell, with the one closest to Raynell listed first.
    • Roebuck
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Hub City Courts
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Hub City Courts is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hub City Courts
    • Spartanburg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Moore
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Camp Croft
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Camp Croft is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Croft
    • Saxon
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Saxon is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxon
    • Una
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Arcadia
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Franklin Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Franklin Village is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Village
    • Johnson City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Johnson City is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
    • Pauline
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Drayton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raynell, with the one closest to Raynell 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
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • 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
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Chester County
    • Cabal
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Cabal is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabal
  • Greenville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raynell, with the one closest to Raynell listed first.
    • Greer
      (16 miles [25.7 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
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Pelham is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
    • Five Forks
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Five Forks is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
    • Fountain Inn
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodland Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Chick Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Chick Springs is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
    • East Gate Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • East Gate Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gate Village
    • O'Neal
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • O'Neal is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neal
    • Simpsonville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Taylors
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Gowensville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Gowensville is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowensville
    • Mauldin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • 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>
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raynell, with the one closest to Raynell listed first.
    • Tylersville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
    • Gray Court
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • 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
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Clinton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Dover ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Dover is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
    • Renno
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Renno is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renno
    • Simpson ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Simpson is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raynell, with the one closest to Raynell listed first.
    • Colerain
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Colerain is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
    • Jonesville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Bonham
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Bonham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
    • Buffalo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Kelly
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Kelly is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
    • Bishop Town ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
    • Union
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Bailey Town ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Bailey Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
    • Sedalia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Sedalia is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
    • Lockhart
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Meador ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Meador is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
    • Red Town ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Red Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Town
  • York County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raynell, with the one closest to Raynell listed first.
    • Hopewell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Hopewell is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
    • Hickory Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Cleveland County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raynell, with the one closest to Raynell 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
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • 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)
  • Polk County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raynell, with the one closest to Raynell listed first.
    • Tryon
      (27 miles [43.5 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
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Lynn is located in Polk County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
    • Columbus
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Mill Spring
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Rutherford County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Raynell, with the one closest to Raynell listed first.
    • Harris
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Harris is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
    • Holly Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Holly Springs is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
    • Henrietta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Henrietta is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
    • Caroleen
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Caroleen is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caroleen
    • Sandy Mush
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Sandy Mush is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Mush
    • Shiloh
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Shiloh is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Alexander Mills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Alexander Mills is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Mills
    • Six Points
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Six Points is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Points

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

Cemeteries Near Raynell ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Raynell.

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

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

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

  • Old City Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old City Cemetery
    • The Old City Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Freemans Cemetery
    • New Colored Cemetery
  • Cemetery Hill
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Seay Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Fleming Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Lee Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Cedar Spring Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Arkwright Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Magnola Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Nazareth Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Cathcart Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Walnut Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Trail Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (432 more) ...
    • Oakwood Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Lancaster Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Antioch Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)

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 Raynell in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Raynell.

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

  • Golightly
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Golightly is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golightly
  • Moore
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Spartanburg
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Walnut Grove
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Walnut Grove is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
  • Whitney
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Whitney is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
  • Fairforest
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Switzer
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Switzer is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Switzer
  • Glenn Springs
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Glenn Springs is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenn Springs
  • Glendale
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Mount Zion
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Zion is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
  • Clifton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Converse
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Reidville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Pacolet
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Pacolet is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacolet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,604 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pacolet <1>
    • Wellford
      (10 miles [16.1 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 Raynell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Raynell.

Newspapers Published in Raynell ...

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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Raynell.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Raynell, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Raynell.

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 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 Raynell:

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 Raynell, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Raynell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.