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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 Ridgecrest (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 Ridgecrest. 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.

Ridgecrest is located in Aiken 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 Aiken County: Burke (GA), Richmond (GA), Barnwell, Edgefield, Lexington, Orangeburg & Saluda.

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

  • Aiken County     (The home county of Ridgecrest)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgecrest, with the one closest to Ridgecrest listed first.
    • Burnettown
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Burnettown is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnettown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,769 people
    • Bath
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Clearwater
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Langley
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Gloverville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Belvedere
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Belvedere is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvedere
    • North Augusta
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Graniteville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Warrenville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Beech Island
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Huntcliff
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Huntcliff is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntcliff
    • Springdale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Springdale is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
    • Savanna Town ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Savanna Town is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savanna Town
  • Barnwell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgecrest, with the one closest to Ridgecrest listed first.
    • Williston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Elko
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Elko is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elko <1>
    • Snelling
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Snelling is located in Barnwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snelling
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
  • Edgefield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgecrest, with the one closest to Ridgecrest listed first.
    • Murphys Estates
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Murphys Estates is located in Edgefield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphys Estates
    • Lenoir ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Lenoir is located in Edgefield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenoir
    • Trenton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Colliers
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Colliers is located in Edgefield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colliers
    • Edgefield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Johnston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • McCormick County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgecrest, with the one closest to Ridgecrest listed first.
    • Clarks Hill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Modoc
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Parksville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Saluda County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgecrest, with the one closest to Ridgecrest listed first.
    • Ward
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Ridge Spring
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Burke County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgecrest, with the one closest to Ridgecrest listed first.
    • Keysville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Brushy Creek ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Brushy Creek is located in Burke County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek
    • Waynesboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Columbia County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgecrest, with the one closest to Ridgecrest listed first.
    • Lulaville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Lulaville is located in Columbia County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lulaville
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,961 people
    • Martinez
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Memory Park
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Memory Park is located in Columbia County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memory Park
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 122 people
    • Arrow Head
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Arrow Head is located in Columbia County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrow Head
    • Lamkin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Lamkin is located in Columbia County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamkin
    • Evans
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Snead
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Snead is located in Columbia County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snead
      • Estimated population in 2019: 20,077 people
    • Fort Gordon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Forrest ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Forrest is located in Columbia County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forrest
    • Grovetown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Grovetown is located in Columbia County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grovetown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,639 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Grovetown <1>
    • Kiokee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Kiokee is located in Columbia County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiokee
    • Maddox
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Maddox is located in Columbia County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maddox
    • Appling
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
  • Jefferson County (GA)
    • Noah
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Noah is located in Jefferson County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noah
      • Noah has also been known as:
      • Noah Station
  • McDuffie County (GA)
    • Dearing
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Dearing is located in McDuffie County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dearing
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 529 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dearing <1>
  • Richmond County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgecrest, with the one closest to Ridgecrest listed first.
    • Augusta
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • National Hills
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • National Hills is located in Richmond County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for National Hills
    • Rockbrook
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Rockbrook is located in Richmond County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockbrook
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 160 people
    • Southgate Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Southgate Village is located in Richmond County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southgate Village
    • Bonair
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Bonair is located in Richmond County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonair
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 3,135 people
    • Forest Hills
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Fairvale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairvale is located in Richmond County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairvale
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 6,769 people
    • Fleming Heights
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Fleming Heights is located in Richmond County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming Heights
      • Estimated population in 2019: 717 people
    • Waverly
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Waverly is located in Richmond County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
    • Richmond Hills
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Richmond Hills is located in Richmond County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Hills
      • Estimated population in 2019: 13,839 people
    • Nixon ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Nixon is located in Richmond County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixon
    • Gracewood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Pepperidge
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Pepperidge is located in Richmond County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepperidge

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

Cemeteries Near Ridgecrest ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ridgecrest.

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

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

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

  • Bath Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • New Langley Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Old Langley Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Sunset Memorial Gardens
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Carter Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Glover Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Walker Memorial Park
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Magnolia Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Cedar Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Glover Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Pineview Memorial Gardens
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (266 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>

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

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

  • Bath
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Langley
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Hamburg
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Hamburg is located in Aiken County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
  • Beech Island
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Graniteville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Augusta
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Vaucluse
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Poverty Hill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Poverty Hill is located in Edgefield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poverty Hill
  • Aiken
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Wheless
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Wheless is located in Richmond County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheless
  • Adams ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Adams is located in Richmond County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
  • Lenoir ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Lenoir is located in Edgefield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenoir
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Adventure ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Adventure is located in Richmond County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adventure
    • Morgana
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Morgana is located in Edgefield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgana
    • Martinez
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Ridgecrest ...

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 138 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ridgecrest.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ridgecrest, 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 Ridgecrest.

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 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 Ridgecrest:

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