Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Russell. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Russell to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Russell, please Contact Us.
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 Russell (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 Russell. 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 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 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Russell is historic, it would have been located within present day 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 Russell. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Russell:
- Oconee County (The home county of Russell)
- The following are listed by their distance from Russell, with the one closest to Russell listed first.
- Mountain Rest
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Tamassee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Longcreek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Salem
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Walhalla
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- West Union
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Battle Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Battle Creek is located in Oconee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle Creek
- Westminster
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Harbin ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Harbin is located in Oconee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbin
- Richland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Madison
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Madison is located in Oconee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
- Newry
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Seneca
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Russell, with the one closest to Russell listed first.
- Pendleton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Townville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- La France
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pickens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Russell, with the one closest to Russell listed first.
- Nine Times
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Nine Times is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Times
- Six Mile
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Sunset
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Crow Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Crow Creek is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Creek
- Rocky Bottom
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rocky Bottom is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Bottom
- Clemson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Central
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Isaqueena Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Isaqueena Village is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isaqueena Village
- Norris
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pickens
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Knob ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Knob is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
- Liberty
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Arial
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Arial is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arial
- Franklin County (GA)
- Gumlog
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Gumlog is located in Franklin County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gumlog
- Habersham County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Russell, with the one closest to Russell listed first.
- Tugaloo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Tugaloo is located in Habersham County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tugaloo
- Turnerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Clarkesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hills is located in Habersham County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills
- Rabun County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Russell, with the one closest to Russell listed first.
- Antioch
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Antioch is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Sky Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dillard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Mountain City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Clayton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Wiley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tiger
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Lakemont
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Germany
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Germany is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germany
- Tallulah Falls
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Stephens County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Russell, with the one closest to Russell listed first.
- Jarrett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Jarrett is located in Stephens County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,974 people
- Toccoa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Toccoa Falls
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Carnes Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Carnes Creek is located in Stephens County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnes Creek
- Estimated population in 2019: 601 people
- Eastanollee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Avalon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Avalon is located in Stephens County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
- Martin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Towns County (GA)
- Tate City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Tate City is located in Towns County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate City
- Jackson County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Russell, with the one closest to Russell listed first.
- Highlands
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cashiers
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Glenville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Erastus
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Erastus is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erastus
- Argura
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Argura is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argura
- Tuckasegee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Forest Hills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Forest Hills is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
- Forest Hills has also been known as:
- Forest Hills village
- Village of Forest Hills
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Forest Hills <2>
- Gay
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Gay is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay
- Cullowhee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- East Laport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- East Laport is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Laport
- Greens Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Greens Creek is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Creek
- Webster
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Webster is located in Jackson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Macon County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Russell, with the one closest to Russell listed first.
- Scaly Mountain
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lickskillet
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lickskillet is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Orlando
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Orlando is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Otto
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Ellijay
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ellijay is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellijay
- Franklin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Leatherman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Leatherman is located in Macon County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherman
- Transylvania County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Russell, with the one closest to Russell listed first.
- Sapphire
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Toxaway
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Toxaway Falls ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Toxaway Falls is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxaway Falls
- Rosman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rosman is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 624 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosman <2>
- Balsam Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- East Fork
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- East Fork is located in Transylvania County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fork
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Russell, see our County-by-County Page for Russell.
Cemeteries Near Russell ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Russell.
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 Russell - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Russell covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Russell, with the one closest to Russell listed first.
- Holden Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Snyder Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Billingsley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Burrell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Page Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hamby Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hedden Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Macedonia MB Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Speed Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Monte Vista Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Cherry Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (321 more) ...
- Pells Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Winchester Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hale Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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.
While we didn't find Russell in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Russell.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Russell, with the one closest to Russell listed first.
- Mountain Rest
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Pine Mountain
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pine Mountain is located in Rabun County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mountain
- Whetstone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Whetstone is located in Oconee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whetstone
- Highlands
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Longcreek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Scaly Mountain
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Walhalla
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Salem
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Battle Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Battle Creek is located in Oconee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle Creek
- West Union
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Clayton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Jocassee ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Jocassee is located in Oconee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jocassee
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Cashiers
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Tiger
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Eastatoe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Eastatoe is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastatoe
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Russell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Russell.
Newspapers Published in Russell ...
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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Russell.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Russell, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Russell.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Russell:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Oconee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Pickens County
- Franklin County
- Habersham County
- Rabun County
- Stephens County
- Towns County
- Jackson County
- Macon County
- Transylvania County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for South Carolina
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Russell, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Russell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |