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 Riverdale (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 Riverdale. 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.
Riverdale is located in Dillon 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 Dillon County: Columbus (NC), Robeson (NC), Florence, Horry, Marion & Marlboro.
Below are the counties that are near Riverdale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Riverdale:
- Dillon County (The home county of Riverdale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Dillon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hamer
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Floydale
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Little Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Latta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fork
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Oakland Crossroads
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Oakland Crossroads is located in Dillon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Crossroads
- Lake View
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Minturn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Darlington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Mont Clare
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mont Clare is located in Darlington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Clare
- Palmetto
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Palmetto is located in Darlington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
- Florence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Jamestown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jamestown is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Mars Bluff
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Mars Bluff is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Bluff
- Quinby
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Florence
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Siesta Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Siesta Village is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siesta Village
- Park City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Park City is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City
- Horry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Galivants Ferry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Green Sea
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Aynor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Red Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Red Hill is located in Horry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Finklea
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Finklea is located in Horry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finklea
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Sellers
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mullins
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Nichols
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Marion
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Laughlin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Laughlin is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laughlin
- Rains
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Tabernacle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Tabernacle is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabernacle
- Centenary
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Marlboro County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Brownsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Brownsville is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Clio
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Red Bluff
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Red Bluff is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bluff
- Blenheim
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Drake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Drake is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake
- McColl
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Tatum
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bennettsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Newtonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Newtonville is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtonville
- Bladen County (NC)
- Butters
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Butters is located in Bladen County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butters
- Columbus County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Fair Bluff
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Fair Bluff is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Bluff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 879 people
- Boardman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Boardman is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boardman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
- Cerro Gordo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cerro Gordo is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cerro Gordo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Williamson Crossroads
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Williamson Crossroads is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson Crossroads
- Evergreen
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Evergreen is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
- Cedar Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Cedar Grove is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Grist
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Grist is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grist
- Chadbourn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Mount Olive
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Mount Olive is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Clarendon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Clarendon is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarendon
- Emerson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Emerson is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
- Tabor City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Robeson County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Rowland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Marietta
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Marietta is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
- Alfordsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Alfordsville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfordsville
- Fairmont
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- McDonald
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- McDonald is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDonald
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Raynham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Raynham is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raynham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Barnesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Barnesville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Elrod
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Elrod is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrod
- Proctorville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Proctorville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctorville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Raemon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Raemon is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raemon
- Orrum
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Orrum is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Pates
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Pates is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pates
- Scotland County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Hasty
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hasty is located in Scotland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasty
- East Laurinburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- East Laurinburg is located in Scotland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laurinburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 277 people
- Laurinburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Gibson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Riverdale, see our County-by-County Page for Riverdale.
Cemeteries Near Riverdale ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riverdale.
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 Riverdale - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Riverdale covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Mt. Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Riverside Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Greenlawn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Little Pee Dee Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Bermuda Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sanderson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Regan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Culbreth Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kentyre Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Old Hamilton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (423 more) ...
- Mt. Holly Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Fore Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
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 Riverdale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Riverdale.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Dillon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Gaddysville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gaddysville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaddysville
- Little Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Latta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Echo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Echo is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
- Fork
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Zion
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Zion is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Rowland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Sellers
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Alfordsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Alfordsville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfordsville
- Mullins
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Nichols
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Barnesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Barnesville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Brownsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Brownsville is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Laughlin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Laughlin is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laughlin
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Riverdale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Riverdale.
Newspapers Published in Riverdale ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riverdale.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riverdale, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Riverdale.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Riverdale:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Dillon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Darlington County
- Florence County
- Horry County
- Marion County
- Marlboro County
- Bladen County
- Columbus County
- Robeson County
- Scotland 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 Riverdale, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Riverdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |