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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 Tompkins (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 Tompkins. 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.

Tompkins is located in Horry 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 Horry County: Brunswick (NC), Columbus (NC), Dillon, Georgetown & Marion.

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

  • Horry County     (The home county of Tompkins)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tompkins, with the one closest to Tompkins listed first.
    • Red Hill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Red Hill is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
    • Aynor
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cool Spring
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Cool Spring is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool Spring
    • Galivants Ferry
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Brownway
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Brownway is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownway
    • Cochran Town
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Cochran Town is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochran Town
    • White Oak
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • White Oak is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Allen
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Allen is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
    • Cebu ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Cebu is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cebu
    • Conway
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Gurley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Gurley is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurley
    • Hickory Grove
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Hickory Grove is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
  • Dillon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tompkins, with the one closest to Tompkins listed first.
    • Fork
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Floydale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Lake View
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Latta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Florence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tompkins, with the one closest to Tompkins listed first.
    • Johnsonville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Hannah
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Hannah is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hannah
    • Pamplico
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Friendfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Friendfield is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendfield
    • Scranton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Wren Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Wren Village is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren Village
    • Jamestown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jamestown is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
    • Coward
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Lake City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Mars Bluff
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Mars Bluff is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Bluff
    • Effingham
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Georgetown County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tompkins, with the one closest to Tompkins listed first.
    • Carters Crossroads
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Carters Crossroads is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carters Crossroads
    • Allentown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Allentown is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allentown
    • Willie Towne
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Willie Towne is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willie Towne
    • Murrells Inlet
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Inlet Oaks Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Inlet Oaks Village is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet Oaks Village
    • Jackson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Jackson is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
    • Campfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Campfield is located in Georgetown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campfield
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tompkins, with the one closest to Tompkins listed first.
    • Centenary
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Gresham
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Rains
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Tabernacle
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Tabernacle is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabernacle
    • Mullins
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Marion
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Nichols
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Laughlin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Laughlin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laughlin
    • Sellers
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Williamsburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tompkins, with the one closest to Tompkins listed first.
    • Hemingway
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Stuckey
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Stuckey is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stuckey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
    • Indiantown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Indiantown is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiantown
    • Rome
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Rome is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
    • Nesmith
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Snow Town
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Snow Town is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Town
  • Columbus County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tompkins, with the one closest to Tompkins listed first.
    • Tabor City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Emerson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Emerson is located in Columbus County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
    • Clarendon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Clarendon is located in Columbus County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarendon
    • Fair Bluff
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Fair Bluff is located in Columbus County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Bluff
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 879 people
    • Ironhill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Ironhill is located in Columbus County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironhill

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

Cemeteries Near Tompkins ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Tompkins.

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

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

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

  • Mt. Hermon Baptist Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Rehobeth Baptist Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Antioch UMC Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Old Antioch Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Pleasant Union MB Church Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Palmer Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Westside Memorial Gardens
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Rehoboth UMC Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth UMC Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Rehoboth UMC Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 5 miles [8 km]<2> to the east of Galivants Ferry.
    • The Rehoboth UMC Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Rehoboth Methodist Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1143784 <3>
  • Bay Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Souls Chapel Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • New Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (305 more) ...

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.<4>

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

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

  • Jordanville
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Jordanville is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordanville
  • Gideon
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Gideon is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gideon
  • Brittons Neck
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Brittons Neck is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brittons Neck
  • Cool Spring
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cool Spring is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool Spring
  • Forney
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Forney is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forney
  • Galivants Ferry
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Centenary
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Eulonia
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Eulonia is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulonia
  • Dongola
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Dongola is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dongola
  • Conway
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Adrian
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Adrian is located in Horry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
  • Johnsonville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Bayboro
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Bayboro is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayboro
    • Privetts
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Privetts is located in Horry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privetts
    • Tabernacle
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Tabernacle is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabernacle

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

Newspapers Published in Tompkins ...

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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Tompkins.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Tompkins, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Tompkins.

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 helpful 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 Tompkins:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Tompkins) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 Tompkins, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.