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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 Royal Oaks (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 Royal Oaks. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Royal Oaks is located in Darlington 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 Darlington County: Chesterfield, Florence, Kershaw, Lee & Marlboro.

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

  • Darlington County     (The home county of Royal Oaks)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal Oaks, with the one closest to Royal Oaks listed first.
    • Darlington
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Pine Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Pine Village is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
    • Palmetto
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Palmetto is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
    • Dovesville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Dovesville is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovesville
    • Mont Clare
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Mont Clare is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Clare
    • Philadelphia ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Philadelphia is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Syracuse
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Syracuse is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Syracuse
    • Alexander Crossroads
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Alexander Crossroads is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Crossroads
    • North Hartsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • North Hartsville is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hartsville
    • Hartsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Greenplains ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Greenplains is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenplains
    • Prestwood Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Prestwood Village is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prestwood Village
  • Chesterfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal Oaks, with the one closest to Royal Oaks listed first.
    • Patrick
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • McBee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • McBee is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for McBee <1>
    • Cheraw
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Cheraw is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheraw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,554 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cheraw <1>
  • Clarendon County
    • Turbeville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Dillon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal Oaks, with the one closest to Royal Oaks listed first.
    • Latta
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Minturn
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Little Rock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Dillon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Florence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal Oaks, with the one closest to Royal Oaks listed first.
    • Ebenezer
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Ebenezer is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
    • Florence
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Quinby
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Timmonsville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Siesta Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Siesta Village is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siesta Village
    • Park City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Park City is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City
    • Tara Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Tara Village is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tara Village
    • Mars Bluff
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Mars Bluff is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Bluff
    • Jones Crossroads
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Jones Crossroads is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Crossroads
    • Jamestown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jamestown is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
    • Danwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Danwood is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danwood
    • Cartersville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Cartersville is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
  • Kershaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal Oaks, with the one closest to Royal Oaks listed first.
    • Bethune
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Pine Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Pine Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal Oaks, with the one closest to Royal Oaks listed first.
    • Alcot
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Alcot is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcot
    • Lynchburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Elliott
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bishopville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Atkins
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Atkins is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Manville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Manville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal Oaks, with the one closest to Royal Oaks listed first.
    • Sellers
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Laughlin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Laughlin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laughlin
    • Marion
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Marlboro County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal Oaks, with the one closest to Royal Oaks listed first.
    • Drake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Drake is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake
    • Brownsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Brownsville is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
    • Blenheim
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Bennettsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Clio
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Clio is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 645 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clio <1>
    • Wallace
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Tatum
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Red Bluff
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Red Bluff is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bluff
    • Newtonville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Newtonville is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtonville
  • Sumter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal Oaks, with the one closest to Royal Oaks listed first.
    • Hobbs Crossroads
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Hobbs Crossroads is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobbs Crossroads
    • Shiloh
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Shiloh is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Mayesville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Royal Oaks ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Royal Oaks.

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 Royal Oaks - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Mill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Magnolia Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Cannon Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Grove Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Red Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Quarters Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Law Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Bryant Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Odom Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Indian Branch Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Bacot Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Warr Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (256 more) ...
    • Isqett Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Byrd Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Cherry Grove Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)

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

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

  • Floyd
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Floyd is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floyd
  • Palmetto
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Palmetto is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
  • Mont Clare
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Mont Clare is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Clare
  • Dovesville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Dovesville is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovesville
  • Philadelphia ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Philadelphia is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
  • Syracuse
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Syracuse is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Syracuse
  • Ebenezer
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Ebenezer is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
  • Florence
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Oats
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Oats is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oats
  • Hartsville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Timmonsville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Greenplains ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenplains is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenplains
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Society Hill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Lydia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Lamar
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Lamar is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lamar <1>

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

Newspapers Published in Royal Oaks ...

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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Royal Oaks.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Royal Oaks, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Royal Oaks.

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 Royal Oaks:

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