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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 Return (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 Return. 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.

Return is located in Oconee 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 Oconee County: Franklin (GA), Habersham (GA), Hart (GA), Rabun (GA), Stephens (GA), Jackson (NC), Macon (NC), Transylvania (NC), Anderson & Pickens.

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

  • Oconee County     (The home county of Return)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Return, with the one closest to Return listed first.
    • Seneca
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Richland
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Oakway
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Oakway is located in Oconee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakway
    • Utica
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Utica is located in Oconee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utica
    • Westminster
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Newry
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • West Union
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Fair Play
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Walhalla
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Harbin ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Harbin is located in Oconee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbin
    • Madison
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Madison is located in Oconee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
    • Tamassee
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Longcreek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Anderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Return, with the one closest to Return listed first.
    • Townville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Pendleton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Leisure Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Leisure Village is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure Village
    • La France
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Price ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Price is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Price
    • Sandy Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Andersonville ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Andersonville is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andersonville
    • Centerville Terrace Estates
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Centerville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Centerville is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
    • Northlake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Northlake is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northlake
    • Anderson Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Anderson Village is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson Village
    • Holland Store
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Holland Store is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland Store
      • Holland Store has also been known as:
      • Hollands
    • Anderson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Pickens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Return, with the one closest to Return listed first.
    • Clemson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Isaqueena Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Isaqueena Village is located in Pickens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isaqueena Village
    • Central
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Six Mile
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Norris
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Liberty
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Nine Times
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Nine Times is located in Pickens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Times
    • Crow Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Crow Creek is located in Pickens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Creek
    • Pickens
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Arial
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Arial is located in Pickens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arial
    • Easley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Sunset
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Knob ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Knob is located in Pickens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
  • Elbert County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Return, with the one closest to Return listed first.
    • Bowman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Bowman is located in Elbert County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 812 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bowman <1>
    • Centerville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Centerville is located in Elbert County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
    • Harper
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Harper is located in Elbert County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
  • Franklin County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Return, with the one closest to Return listed first.
    • Gumlog
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Gumlog is located in Franklin County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gumlog
    • Lavonia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Lavonia is located in Franklin County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavonia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,187 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lavonia <1>
    • Parhams
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Parhams is located in Franklin County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parhams
    • Canon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Canon is located in Franklin County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 786 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Canon <1>
    • Aquilla ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Aquilla is located in Franklin County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquilla
    • Carnesville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Royston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Royston is located in Franklin County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,562 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Royston <1>
    • Franklin Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Plainview
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Plainview is located in Franklin County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainview
    • Cromers
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Cromers is located in Franklin County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromers
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 639 people
  • Habersham County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Return, with the one closest to Return listed first.
    • Tugaloo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Tugaloo is located in Habersham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tugaloo
    • Turnerville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Hills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Hills is located in Habersham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills
    • Clarkesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Mount Airy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Hart County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Return, with the one closest to Return listed first.
    • Reed Creek
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Reed Creek is located in Hart County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed Creek
    • Maretts
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Maretts is located in Hart County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maretts
    • Crawfords Ferry
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Crawfords Ferry is located in Hart County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawfords Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2019: 473 people
    • Cooleys Ferry
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Cooleys Ferry is located in Hart County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooleys Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2019: 529 people
    • Bowersville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Flat Shoals
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Flat Shoals is located in Hart County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Shoals
    • Hartwell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Dooleys Ferry
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Dooleys Ferry is located in Hart County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooleys Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2019: 136 people
  • Madison County (GA)
    • Harrison
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Harrison is located in Madison County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
      • Estimated population in 2019: 442 people
  • Rabun County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Return, with the one closest to Return listed first.
    • Tallulah Falls
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Antioch
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Antioch is located in Rabun County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
    • Lakemont
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Wiley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Clayton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Clayton is located in Rabun County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,103 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clayton <1>
    • Tiger
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Tiger is located in Rabun County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiger
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 418 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tiger <1>
    • Mountain City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Sky Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Stephens County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Return, with the one closest to Return listed first.
    • Avalon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Avalon is located in Stephens County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
    • Jarrett
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Jarrett is located in Stephens County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,974 people
    • Martin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Martin is located in Stephens County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Martin <1>
    • Eastanollee
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Toccoa
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Toccoa is located in Stephens County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toccoa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,300 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Toccoa <1>
    • Carnes Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Carnes Creek is located in Stephens County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnes Creek
      • Estimated population in 2019: 601 people
    • Toccoa Falls
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
  • Jackson County (NC)
    • Highlands
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Return ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Return.

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

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

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

  • Bethel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Oakway Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Wildwood Memorial Park
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Hopewell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Richland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Rock Springs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Marit Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Hays Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Hepsibah Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. View Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (439 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.<2>

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

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

  • Retreat
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Retreat is located in Oconee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retreat
  • Oakway
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Oakway is located in Oconee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakway
  • Seneca
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Richland
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Westminster
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Townville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Fair Play
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • West Union
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Walhalla
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Calhoun
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Calhoun is located in Pickens County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
  • Harbin ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Harbin is located in Oconee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbin
  • Pendleton
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Reed Creek
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Reed Creek is located in Hart County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed Creek
    • Central
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Shoal Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Shoal Creek is located in Hart County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Creek

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

Newspapers Published in Return ...

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 14 newspapers that have been published in the area around Return.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Return, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Return.

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 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 Return:

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 Return, 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- Return) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.