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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 Spring Lake (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 Spring Lake. 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.

Name Variations for Spring Lake ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Spring Lake: Spring Lk.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Spring Lake. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Spring Lake.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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.

Spring Lake is located in Sumter 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 Sumter County: Calhoun, Clarendon, Florence, Kershaw, Lee & Richland.

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

  • Sumter County     (The home county of Spring Lake)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
    • Ashley Creek Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Ashley Creek Village is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Creek Village
    • Millwood
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Millwood is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
    • South Sumter
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • South Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Sumter
    • Sumter
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Privateer
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Privateer is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privateer
    • Lakewood
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lakewood is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Cane Savannah
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
    • Mulberry
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Mulberry is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
    • East Sumter
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • East Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sumter
    • Cherryvale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Cherryvale is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryvale
    • Wedgefield
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Oakland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Oakland is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
    • Dalzell
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
    • Creston
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Creston is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
    • Saint Matthews
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Cameron
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Cameron is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
  • Clarendon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
    • Paxville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Alcolu
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Silver
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Silver is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
    • Panola
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Panola is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
    • Manning
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Gable
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Sardinia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Summerton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • New Zion
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Davis Station
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Turbeville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Jordan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jordan is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
    • Union Crossroads
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Union Crossroads is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Crossroads
  • Darlington County
    • Lamar
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
  • Florence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
    • Cartersville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cartersville is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Olanta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Sardis
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Sardis is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
  • Kershaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
    • Camden
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Spring Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Spring Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Village
    • Log Town ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Log Town is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log Town
    • Lugoff
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Elgin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Elgin is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,585 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elgin <1>
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
    • Manville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Manville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
    • Atkins
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Atkins is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Elliott
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Lynchburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Bishopville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Alcot
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Alcot is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcot
  • Orangeburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
    • Elloree
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Parler
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Parler is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parler
    • Santee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Vance
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Vance is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vance
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vance <1>
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Spring Lake, with the one closest to Spring Lake listed first.
    • Eastover
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Gadsden
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Weston
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Weston is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
    • Bruner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Bruner is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
    • Pinewood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Pinewood is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinewood
    • Hopkins
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Williamsburg County
    • Terrell Crossroad
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Terrell Crossroad is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrell Crossroad

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

Cemeteries Near Spring Lake ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Spring Lake.

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 Spring Lake - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Gadson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Hillside Memorial Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Dargon Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Green Acres Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Miller Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Bradford Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Sumter Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pitts Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Wood Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Webb Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (165 more) ...
    • Pitts Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Loring Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Marshall Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)

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.<2>

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

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

  • Privateer
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Privateer is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privateer
  • Cane Savannah
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
  • Tindal
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Tindal is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tindal
  • Wedgefield
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Brogdon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Brogdon is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brogdon
  • Oswego
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Oswego is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
  • Catchall
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Catchall is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catchall
  • Claremont
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Claremont is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
  • Harvin
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Harvin is located in Clarendon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvin
  • Mayesville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Alcolu
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Silver
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Silver is located in Clarendon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Panola
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Panola is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
    • Hagood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hagood is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagood
    • Rimini
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Rimini is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rimini

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

Newspapers Published in Spring Lake ...

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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Spring Lake.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Spring Lake, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Spring Lake.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Spring Lake:

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>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 Spring Lake, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Spring Lake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.