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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 Waterloo (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 Waterloo. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Waterloo is located in Laurens County.

To see how the shape of South Carolina's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Laurens County: Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Newberry, Spartanburg & Union.

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

  • Laurens County     (The home county of Waterloo)
  • Abbeville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waterloo, with the one closest to Waterloo listed first.
    • Ware Shoals
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Donalds
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Due West
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Cana ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cana have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cana
      • Cana is located in Abbeville County
    • Honea Path
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Abbeville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Level Land
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Level Land. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Land
      • Level Land is located in Abbeville County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Level Land
      • From Waterloo to Level Land
    • Antreville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Antreville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antreville
      • Antreville is located in Abbeville County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Antreville
      • From Waterloo to Antreville
    • Monterey ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Monterey have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
      • Monterey is located in Abbeville County
    • Lake Secession
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Secession have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Secession
      • Lake Secession is located in Abbeville County
  • Anderson County
  • Greenville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waterloo, with the one closest to Waterloo listed first.
    • Fork Shoals
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fork Shoals. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fork Shoals
      • Fork Shoals is located in Greenville County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Fork Shoals
      • From Waterloo to Fork Shoals
    • Fountain Inn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Lickville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lickville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickville
      • Lickville is located in Greenville County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Lickville
      • From Waterloo to Lickville
    • Simpsonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodland Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Woodland Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
      • Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
  • Greenwood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waterloo, with the one closest to Waterloo listed first.
    • Coronaca
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coronaca have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coronaca
      • Coronaca is located in Greenwood County
    • Cokesbury
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cokesbury have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cokesbury
      • Cokesbury is located in Greenwood County
    • Grendel Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Grendel Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grendel Village
      • Grendel Village is located in Greenwood County
    • Hodges
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ninety Six
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Greenwood Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Greenwood Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Village
      • Greenwood Village is located in Greenwood County
    • Greenwood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairforest
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Mathews Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mathews Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mathews Village
      • Mathews Village is located in Greenwood County
    • Panola Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Panola Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola Village
      • Panola Village is located in Greenwood County
    • Springdale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Promised Land
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Promised Land have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promised Land
      • Promised Land is located in Greenwood County
    • Verdery
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Verdery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verdery
      • Verdery is located in Greenwood County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Verdery
      • From Waterloo to Verdery
  • McCormick County
  • Newberry County
  • Saluda County
  • Spartanburg County
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waterloo, with the one closest to Waterloo listed first.
    • Sedalia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sedalia. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
      • Sedalia is located in Union County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Sedalia
      • From Waterloo to Sedalia
    • Bishop Town ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bishop Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
    • Colerain
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Colerain. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
      • Colerain is located in Union County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Colerain
      • From Waterloo to Colerain

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

Cemeteries Near Waterloo ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Waterloo.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Waterloo Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Smyrna Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Smyrna Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Smyrna Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Franklin Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Franklin Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Franklin Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Cross Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Cross Hill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Cross Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Beaverdam Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Beaverdam Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Beaverdam Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Lisbon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lisbon Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lisbon Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Bethlehem Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bethlehem Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bethlehem Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Andrews Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Bethabara Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Head Springs Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Head Springs Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Head Springs Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (284 more) ...
    • Hopewell Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hopewell Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hopewell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Mt. Galliger Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Galliger Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Galliger Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Kings Chapel Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Kings Chapel Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Kings Chapel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Waterloo had a population of 291 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Waterloo had a population of 170 people.

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

  • Cross Hill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Mountville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Lisbon ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lisbon. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Lisbon is located in Laurens County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Lisbon
    • From Waterloo to Lisbon
  • Ekom
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Mount Gallagher
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Milton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Milton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton
    • Milton is located in Laurens County
  • Hodges
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Vaughanville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vaughanville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughanville
    • Vaughanville is located in Newberry County
  • Brewerton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brewerton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewerton
    • Brewerton is located in Laurens County
  • Greenwood
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Ninety Six
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Clinton
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Dover ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dover have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
      • Dover is located in Laurens County
    • Barksdale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Barksdale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barksdale
      • Barksdale is located in Laurens County
    • Chappells
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Waterloo ...

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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Waterloo.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Waterloo, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Waterloo.

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 Waterloo:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Waterloo. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Laurens County: www.laurenscountysc.org/

The official website for State of South Carolina: https://sc.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>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 Waterloo, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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- Waterloo) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Waterloo. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 34.3537, Longitude: -82.0576    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 22 Apr 2025