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 Selma (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 Selma. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
Selma 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 Selma. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Selma:
- Dillon County (The home county of Selma)
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Dillon
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Little Rock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hamer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland Crossroads
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Oakland Crossroads is located in Dillon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Crossroads
- Minturn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Floydale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Latta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Fork
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lake View
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Darlington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Mont Clare
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Mont Clare is located in Darlington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Clare
- Society Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Palmetto
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Palmetto is located in Darlington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
- Darlington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Dovesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Dovesville is located in Darlington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovesville
- Pine Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Pine Village is located in Darlington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
- Florence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Florence
(28 miles [45.1 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
- Tara Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tara Village is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tara Village
- Horry County
- Galivants Ferry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Sellers
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mullins
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Laughlin
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Laughlin is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laughlin
- Marion
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Nichols
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rains
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Tabernacle
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Tabernacle is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabernacle
- Centenary
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Marlboro County
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Brownsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Brownsville is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Clio
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Red Bluff
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Red Bluff is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bluff
- Blenheim
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Drake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Drake is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake
- McColl
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Tatum
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Bennettsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Newtonville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Newtonville is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtonville
- Bladen County (NC)
- Butters
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- 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 Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Fair Bluff
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fair Bluff is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Bluff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 879 people
- Boardman
(24 miles [38.6 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
(26 miles [41.8 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
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Williamson Crossroads is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson Crossroads
- Evergreen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Evergreen is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
- Cedar Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cedar Grove is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Grist
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Grist is located in Columbus County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grist
- Richmond County (NC)
- Ghio Scholl Station
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ghio Scholl Station is located in Richmond County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ghio Scholl Station
- Robeson County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Rowland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Alfordsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Alfordsville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfordsville
- Raemon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Raemon is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raemon
- Elrod
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elrod is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrod
- 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
(13 miles [20.9 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
- Fairmont
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Marietta
(15 miles [24.1 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
- Barnesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Barnesville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Alma
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Alma is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Pates
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pates is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pates
- Pembroke
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Scotland County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Hasty
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Hasty is located in Scotland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasty
- East Laurinburg
(22 miles [35.4 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
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Gibson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Laurel Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Richmond Mill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Richmond Mill is located in Scotland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Mill
- Crump Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Crump Town is located in Scotland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crump Town
- Wagram
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Selma, see our County-by-County Page for Selma.
Cemeteries Near Selma ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Selma.
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 Selma - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Selma covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Hamilton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Old Hamilton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Ropers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Mt. Holly Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Riverside Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- McCayhan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Price Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Wallace Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Little Rock Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Greenlawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (445 more) ...
- Mt. Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kentyre Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
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 Selma in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Selma.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Dillon
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Little Rock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Echo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Echo is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
- Rowland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Latta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gaddysville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Gaddysville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaddysville
- Alfordsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Alfordsville is located in Robeson County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfordsville
- Brownsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Brownsville is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Sellers
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fork
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Zion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Zion is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Clio
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Parnassus
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Parnassus is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
- Blenheim
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Drake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Drake is located in Marlboro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Selma. See our List of 1890's Communities around Selma.
Newspapers Published in Selma ...
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 55 newspapers that have been published in the area around Selma.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Selma, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Selma.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Selma:
- 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
- Richmond 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 Selma, 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- Selma) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |