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 Ridgewood Heights (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 Ridgewood Heights. 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.
Name Variations for Ridgewood Heights ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Ridgewood Heights: Ridgewood Hts. (in Canada, 'Hgts.' is the more common abbreviation.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Ridgewood Heights. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Ridgewood Heights.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 southwest 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 south.
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 south 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.
Ridgewood Heights 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 Ridgewood Heights. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ridgewood Heights:
- Spartanburg County (The home county of Ridgewood Heights)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood Heights, with the one closest to Ridgewood Heights listed first.
- Saxon
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Saxon is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxon
- Una
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Johnson City
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Johnson City is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
- Southern Shops
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Arcadia
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Whitney
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Whitney is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
- Valley Falls
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hub City Courts
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hub City Courts is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hub City Courts
- Spartanburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fairforest
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin Village is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Village
- Drayton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood Heights, with the one closest to Ridgewood Heights listed first.
- Chesnee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Macedonia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Macedonia is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Gaffney
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- East Gaffney
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- East Gaffney is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gaffney
- Blacksburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Greenville County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood Heights, with the one closest to Ridgewood Heights listed first.
- Greer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Pelham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pelham is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Gowensville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gowensville is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowensville
- Chick Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Chick Springs is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
- 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
- Five Forks
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Five Forks is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
- Taylors
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- 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
- Woodland Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Wade Hampton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Wade Hampton is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wade Hampton
- Highland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Highland is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Paris
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Paris is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Laurens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood Heights, with the one closest to Ridgewood Heights listed first.
- Gray Court
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Tylersville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Tylersville is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
- Green Pond
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Green Pond is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood Heights, with the one closest to Ridgewood Heights listed first.
- Colerain
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Colerain is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
- Jonesville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bonham
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bonham is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
- Buffalo
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Kelly
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Kelly is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
- Bishop Town ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bishop Town is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
- Union
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bailey Town ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bailey Town is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
- Sedalia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sedalia is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
- 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 Ridgewood Heights, with the one closest to Ridgewood Heights listed first.
- Byersville ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Byersville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byersville
- Cliffside
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cliffside is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffside
- Erwinsville ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Erwinsville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erwinsville
- Boiling Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Flint Hill ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Flint Hill is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Hill
- Mooresboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mooresboro is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooresboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
- Earl
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Earl is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earl
- Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
- Lattimore
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lattimore is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lattimore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 454 people
- Sharon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sharon is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Brittain Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Brittain Village is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brittain Village
- Henderson County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood Heights, with the one closest to Ridgewood Heights listed first.
- Saluda
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tuxedo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Polk County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood Heights, with the one closest to Ridgewood Heights listed first.
- Tryon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Columbus
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lynn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lynn is located in Polk County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Mill Spring
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Melrose
(25 miles [40.2 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 Ridgewood Heights, with the one closest to Ridgewood Heights listed first.
- Harris
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Harris is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Holly Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Holly Springs is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Shiloh
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Shiloh is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Henrietta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Henrietta is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Sandy Mush
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sandy Mush is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Mush
- Caroleen
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Caroleen is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caroleen
- Alexander Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Alexander Mills is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Mills
- Six Points
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Six Points is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Points
- Forest City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bakersville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bakersville is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
- Spindale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bostic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ridgewood Heights, see our County-by-County Page for Ridgewood Heights.
Cemeteries Near Ridgewood Heights ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ridgewood Heights.
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 Ridgewood Heights - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ridgewood Heights covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ridgewood Heights, with the one closest to Ridgewood Heights listed first.
- Mosse Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Arkwright Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Magnola Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Seay Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Boiling Springs First Baptist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Cemetery Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Old City Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old City Cemetery
- The Old City Cemetery has also been known as:
- Freemans Cemetery
- New Colored Cemetery
- Liberty Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ft. Prince Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jones Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (444 more) ...
- Greenlawn Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sunset Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Lincoln Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 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 Ridgewood Heights in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ridgewood Heights.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ridgewood Heights, with the one closest to Ridgewood Heights listed first.
- Fairforest
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Spartanburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Whitney
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Whitney is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
- Mount Zion
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mount Zion is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Campton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Campton is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campton
- Wellford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Converse
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Glendale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Clifton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Inman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Duncan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Moore
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Golightly
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Golightly is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golightly
- Reidville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cowpens
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ridgewood Heights. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ridgewood Heights.
Newspapers Published in Ridgewood Heights ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ridgewood Heights.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ridgewood Heights, there are papers which were published within 2 miles [3.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ridgewood Heights.
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 Ridgewood Heights:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Spartanburg County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cherokee County
- Greenville County
- Laurens County
- Union County
- York County
- Cleveland County
- Henderson County
- Polk County
- Rutherford County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for South Carolina
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 Ridgewood Heights, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Ridgewood Heights) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |