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 Totness (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 Totness. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
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 east contained birth and death records; the county to the north 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.
Totness is located in Calhoun 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 Calhoun County: Clarendon, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland & Sumter.
Below are the counties that are near Totness. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Totness:
- Calhoun County (The home county of Totness)
- The following are listed by their distance from Totness, with the one closest to Totness listed first.
- Saint Matthews
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cameron
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cameron is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Creston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Creston is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
- Aiken County
- Perry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Clarendon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Totness, with the one closest to Totness listed first.
- Panola
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Panola is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
- Paxville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Silver
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Silver is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
- Summerton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Kershaw County
- Elgin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lancaster County
- Springdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lexington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Totness, with the one closest to Totness listed first.
- Swansea
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Gaston
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Glenn Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Glenn Village is located in Lexington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenn Village
- Pineridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pineridge is located in Lexington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,419 people
- Cayce
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Styx ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Styx is located in Lexington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Styx
- South Congaree
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- South Congaree is located in Lexington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Congaree
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,485 people
- Springdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Springdale is located in Lexington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- West Columbia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Arthur
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Arthur is located in Lexington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
- Oak Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Lexington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Pelion
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Red Bank
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Red Bank is located in Lexington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Orangeburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Totness, with the one closest to Totness listed first.
- Jamison
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Jamison is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamison
- Stilton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Stilton is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stilton
- Wren Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Wren Village is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren Village
- Brookdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Brookdale is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookdale
- Wilkinson Heights
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Wilkinson Heights is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkinson Heights
- Orangeburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Woodford
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Woodford is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 169 people
- Edisto
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Edisto is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edisto
- Elloree
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- North
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cordova
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Boiling Spring ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Boiling Spring is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boiling Spring
- Bolen Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bolen Town is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolen Town
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Totness, with the one closest to Totness listed first.
- Gadsden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Weston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Weston is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Pinewood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Pinewood is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinewood
- Eastover
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bruner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Bruner is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
- Hopkins
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Capitol View
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Capitol View is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitol View
- Arthurtown
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Arthurtown is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthurtown
- Valencia Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Valencia Heights is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valencia Heights
- Forest Acres
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Acres is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,269 people
- Hollywood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hollywood is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
- Brickyard Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Brickyard Village is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickyard Village
- Columbia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Totness, with the one closest to Totness listed first.
- Sumter Junction
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sumter Junction is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumter Junction
- Pinewood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Wedgefield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Claremont
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Claremont is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
- Stateburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stateburg is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stateburg
- Cane Savannah
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
- Privateer
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Privateer is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privateer
- Horatio
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Cherryvale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cherryvale is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryvale
- Oakland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Ashley Creek Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Ashley Creek Village is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Creek Village
- Lakewood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lakewood is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Millwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Millwood is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Totness, see our County-by-County Page for Totness.
Cemeteries Near Totness ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Totness.
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 Totness - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Totness covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Totness, with the one closest to Totness listed first.
- First Assembly of God Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- West End Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. Mark Baptist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Goodin Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Zion Pilgrim Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- W.F. Seay Family Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for W.F. Seay Family Cemetery
- The W.F. Seay Family Cemetery has also been known as:
- Joyner Cemetery
- Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Non-Denomination Church of God Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Myers Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Nebo Baptist Church Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tom Seay Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (242 more) ...
- Bethel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
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 Totness in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Totness.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Totness, with the one closest to Totness listed first.
- Saint Matthews
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Gadsden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Weston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Weston is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Jamison
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Jamison is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamison
- Congaree
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Congaree is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Congaree
- Hopkins
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Stilton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Stilton is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stilton
- Rimini
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Rimini is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rimini
- Childs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Childs is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childs
- Swansea
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Woodford
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Woodford is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 169 people
- Gaston
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- North
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Elloree
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wedgefield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Totness. See our List of 1890's Communities around Totness.
Newspapers Published in Totness ...
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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Totness.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Totness, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Totness.
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 websites either 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 Totness:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Calhoun County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Aiken County
- Clarendon County
- Kershaw County
- Lancaster County
- Lexington County
- Orangeburg County
- Richland County
- Sumter 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 Totness, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Totness) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |