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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 Water Oaks (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 Water Oaks. 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.

Water Oaks is located in Spartanburg 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 Spartanburg County: Polk (NC), Rutherford (NC), Cherokee, Greenville, Laurens & Union.

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

  • Spartanburg County     (The home county of Water Oaks)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Water Oaks, with the one closest to Water Oaks listed first.
    • Reidville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Brookside Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Brookside Village is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside Village
    • Startex
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Wellford
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Duncan
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Duncan is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,715 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Duncan <1>
    • Lyman
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lyman is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,796 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lyman <1>
    • Green Pond
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Green Pond is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
    • Moore
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Roebuck
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Fairforest
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Franklin Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Franklin Village is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Village
    • Arcadia
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Crescent
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Crescent is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
  • Anderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Water Oaks, with the one closest to Water Oaks listed first.
    • Powderville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Powderville is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderville
    • Piedmont
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Pelzer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • West Pelzer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • West Pelzer is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pelzer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 953 people
    • Williamston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Water Oaks, with the one closest to Water Oaks listed first.
    • Chesnee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Macedonia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Macedonia is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
    • Gaffney
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • East Gaffney
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • East Gaffney is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gaffney
  • Greenville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Water Oaks, with the one closest to Water Oaks listed first.
    • Pelham
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Pelham is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
    • Greer
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Greer is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,316 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Greer <1>
    • Five Forks
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Five Forks is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
    • Woodland Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Chick Springs
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Chick Springs is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
    • East Gate Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • East Gate Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gate Village
    • Simpsonville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Taylors
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • O'Neal
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • O'Neal is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neal
    • Fountain Inn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Mauldin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Mauldin is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauldin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,562 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mauldin <1>
    • Wade Hampton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Wade Hampton is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wade Hampton
    • Paris
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Paris is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Water Oaks, with the one closest to Water Oaks listed first.
    • Gray Court
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Green Pond
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Green Pond is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
    • Tylersville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
    • Laurens
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Simpson ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Simpson is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
    • Princeton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Princeton is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princeton
    • Clinton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Ekom
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Ekom is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekom
  • Pickens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Water Oaks, with the one closest to Water Oaks listed first.
    • Dacusville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Dacusville is located in Pickens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dacusville
    • Easley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Water Oaks, with the one closest to Water Oaks listed first.
    • Colerain
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Colerain is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
    • Jonesville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Bishop Town ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
    • Buffalo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Bonham
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Bonham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
    • Kelly
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Kelly is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
    • Sedalia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sedalia is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
    • Union
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Bailey Town ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Bailey Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
  • Cleveland County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Water Oaks, with the one closest to Water Oaks listed first.
    • Byersville ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Byersville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byersville
    • Cliffside
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cliffside is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffside
  • Henderson County (NC)
    • Saluda
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Saluda is located in Henderson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saluda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 703 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saluda <1>
  • Polk County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Water Oaks, with the one closest to Water Oaks listed first.
    • Tryon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Tryon is located in Polk County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,635 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tryon <1>
    • Lynn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Lynn is located in Polk County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
    • Columbus
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Melrose
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Melrose is located in Polk County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
    • Mill Spring
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Rutherford County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Water Oaks, with the one closest to Water Oaks listed first.
    • Holly Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Holly Springs is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
    • Harris
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Harris is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
    • Shiloh
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Shiloh is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Henrietta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Henrietta is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta

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

Cemeteries Near Water Oaks ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Water Oaks.

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 Water Oaks - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Nazareth Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Penney - McMillian Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Startex Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Green Pond Memorial Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Green Pond Baptist Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Penden Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Woods Chapel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Flint Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Mosse Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Ft. Prince Memorial Gardens
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (427 more) ...
    • Cathcart Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Wood Memorial Park
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)

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

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

  • Reidville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Cashville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Cashville is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cashville
  • Wellford
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Switzer
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Switzer is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Switzer
  • Moore
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Duncan
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Duncan is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,715 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Duncan <1>
  • Fairforest
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Mount Zion
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Mount Zion is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
  • Batesville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Batesville is located in Greenville County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batesville
  • Pelham
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Pelham is located in Greenville County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
  • Woodruff
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Spartanburg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Greer
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Greer is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,316 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Greer <1>
    • Walnut Grove
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Walnut Grove is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
    • Golightly
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Golightly is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golightly

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

Newspapers Published in Water Oaks ...

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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Water Oaks.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Water Oaks, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Water Oaks.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Water Oaks:

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 Water Oaks, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Water Oaks) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.