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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 Swinton (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 Swinton. 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 hospitals and 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.

Swinton 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 Swinton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Swinton:

  • Sumter County     (The home county of Swinton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swinton, with the one closest to Swinton listed first.
    • Dalzell
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Cherryvale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Cherryvale is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryvale
    • Oakland
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Oakland is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
    • Millwood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Millwood is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
    • Mulberry
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Mulberry is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
    • Oswego
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Oswego is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
    • Cane Savannah
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
    • Sumter
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • East Sumter
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • East Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sumter
    • South Sumter
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • South Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Sumter
    • Stateburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Stateburg is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stateburg
    • Ashley Creek Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Ashley Creek Village is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Creek Village
    • Claremont
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Claremont is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
  • Calhoun County
    • Creston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Creston is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
  • Clarendon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swinton, with the one closest to Swinton listed first.
    • Paxville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Alcolu
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Gable
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Sardinia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Silver
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Silver is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
    • Turbeville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Panola
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Panola is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
    • Manning
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • New Zion
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Summerton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Union Crossroads
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Union Crossroads is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Crossroads
    • Davis Station
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Jordan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jordan is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
  • Darlington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swinton, with the one closest to Swinton listed first.
    • Lamar
      (22 miles [35.4 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>
    • Lydia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Philadelphia ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Philadelphia is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Syracuse
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Syracuse is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Syracuse
    • Alexander Crossroads
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Alexander Crossroads is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Crossroads
    • Pine Ridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine Ridge is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
  • Florence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swinton, with the one closest to Swinton listed first.
    • Cartersville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Cartersville is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Sardis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Sardis is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
    • Olanta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Timmonsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Kershaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swinton, with the one closest to Swinton listed first.
    • Camden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Log Town ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Log Town is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log Town
    • Spring Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Spring Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Village
    • Lugoff
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Shepard
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Shepard is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepard
    • Lafayette Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Lafayette Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Village
    • Cassatt
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Elgin
      (25 miles [40.2 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>
    • Bethune
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Pine Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • 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 Swinton, with the one closest to Swinton listed first.
    • Manville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Manville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
    • Elliott
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Atkins
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Atkins is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Bishopville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lynchburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Alcot
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Alcot is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcot
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swinton, with the one closest to Swinton listed first.
    • Eastover
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Gadsden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Bruner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Bruner is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
    • Weston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Weston is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
    • 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)
    • Capitol View
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Capitol View is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitol View
    • Woodfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Woodfield is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodfield

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

Cemeteries Near Swinton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Swinton.

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 Swinton - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Four Bridges Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • St. Lukes Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Loring Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • White - Dick Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • White Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Johns Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Carmel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pitts Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Evergreen Memorial Park
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (181 more) ...
    • Capers Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Miller Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Gadson Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)

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

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

  • Catchall
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Catchall is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catchall
  • Cane Savannah
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
  • Oswego
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Oswego is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
  • Claremont
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Claremont is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
  • Wedgefield
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Rembert
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Hagood
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Hagood is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagood
  • Privateer
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Privateer is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privateer
  • Pisgah
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Pisgah is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
  • Mayesville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Tindal
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Tindal is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tindal
  • Boykin
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Boykin is located in Kershaw County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Stockton ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Stockton is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
    • Brogdon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Brogdon is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brogdon
    • Atkins
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Atkins is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins

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

Newspapers Published in Swinton ...

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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Swinton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Swinton, there are papers which were published within 6 miles [9.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Swinton.

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 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 Swinton:

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 Swinton, 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' (or 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- Swinton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.