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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 Shepard (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 Shepard. 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.

Shepard is located in Kershaw County.

To see how the shape of South Carolina's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Kershaw County: Chesterfield, Darlington, Fairfield, Lancaster, Lee, Richland & Sumter.

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

  • Kershaw County     (The home county of Shepard)
  • Chester County
  • Chesterfield County
  • Darlington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shepard, with the one closest to Shepard listed first.
    • Pine Ridge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Lydia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Prestwood Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Prestwood Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prestwood Village
      • Prestwood Village is located in Darlington County
    • Hartsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • North Hartsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Hartsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hartsville
      • North Hartsville is located in Darlington County
    • Lamar
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Fairfield County
  • Lancaster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shepard, with the one closest to Shepard listed first.
    • Oakhurst
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Oakhurst. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakhurst
      • Oakhurst is located in Lancaster County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Oakhurst
      • From Shepard to Oakhurst
    • Heath Springs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Pleasant Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Primus
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Elgin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Union
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Bell Town
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bell Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Town
      • Bell Town is located in Lancaster County
    • Irwin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Irwin have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
      • Irwin is located in Lancaster County
    • Lancaster Mill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lancaster Mill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lancaster Mill
      • Lancaster Mill is located in Lancaster County
    • Lancaster
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Lee County
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shepard, with the one closest to Shepard listed first.
    • Blythewood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Woodfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Woodfield have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodfield
      • Woodfield is located in Richland County
    • Dentsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Arcadia Lakes
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Arcadia Lakes have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia Lakes
      • Arcadia Lakes is located in Richland County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 874 people
  • Sumter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shepard, with the one closest to Shepard listed first.
    • Rembert
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Horatio
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Dalzell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Oakland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oakland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
      • Oakland is located in Sumter County
    • Claremont
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Claremont. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
      • Claremont is located in Sumter County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Claremont
      • From Shepard to Claremont
    • Cherryvale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cherryvale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryvale
      • Cherryvale is located in Sumter County
    • Stateburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stateburg have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stateburg
      • Stateburg is located in Sumter County
    • Oswego
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Mulberry
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mulberry have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
      • Mulberry is located in Sumter County
    • Cane Savannah
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cane Savannah have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
      • Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
    • Millwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Millwood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
      • Millwood is located in Sumter County
    • Wedgefield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Mayesville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Shepard ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shepard.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<5>

While we didn't find Shepard in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shepard.

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

  • Dekalb
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dekalb have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dekalb
    • Dekalb is located in Kershaw County
  • Camden
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Antioch
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Antioch have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
    • Antioch is located in Kershaw County
  • Cantey
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cantey have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cantey
    • Cantey is located in Kershaw County
  • Westville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Flat Rock
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Flat Rock have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Rock
    • Flat Rock is located in Kershaw County
  • Stockton ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stockton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
    • Stockton is located in Kershaw County
  • Pisgah
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pisgah have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Pisgah is located in Sumter County
  • Boykin
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Boykin have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
    • Boykin is located in Kershaw County
  • Tillers Ferry
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tillers Ferry have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillers Ferry
    • Tillers Ferry is located in Kershaw County
  • Rembert
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
  • Kershaw
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Longtown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Longtown have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longtown
      • Longtown is located in Fairfield County
    • Hagood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hagood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagood
      • Hagood is located in Sumter County
    • Oakhurst
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Oakhurst. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakhurst
      • Oakhurst is located in Lancaster County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Oakhurst
      • From Shepard to Oakhurst

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

Newspapers Published in Shepard ...

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 63 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shepard.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shepard, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shepard.

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 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 Shepard:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Shepard. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of South Carolina: https://sc.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>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 Shepard, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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- Shepard) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Shepard. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 34.3228, Longitude: -80.5393       In this case, the coordinates for Shepard have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 22 Apr 2025