RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of South Carolina >> Spartanburg County >> Westhaven >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Westhaven (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 Westhaven. 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 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.

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

  • Spartanburg County     (The home county of Westhaven)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westhaven, with the one closest to Westhaven listed first.
    • Arcadia
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Fairforest
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Franklin Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Franklin Village is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Village
    • Johnson City
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Johnson City is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
    • Hub City Courts
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Hub City Courts is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hub City Courts
    • Saxon
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Saxon is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxon
    • Southern Shops
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Una
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Spartanburg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Valley Falls
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Whitney
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Whitney is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
    • Brookside Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Brookside Village is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside Village
    • Drayton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Anderson County
    • Powderville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Powderville is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderville
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westhaven, with the one closest to Westhaven listed first.
    • Chesnee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Macedonia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Macedonia is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
    • Gaffney
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • East Gaffney
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • East Gaffney is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gaffney
    • Blacksburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Greenville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westhaven, with the one closest to Westhaven listed first.
    • Greer
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Pelham
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Pelham is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
    • Chick Springs
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Chick Springs is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
    • Gowensville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Gowensville is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowensville
    • Five Forks
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Five Forks is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
    • O'Neal
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • O'Neal is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neal
    • Taylors
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • East Gate Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • East Gate Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gate Village
    • Woodland Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Wade Hampton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Wade Hampton is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wade Hampton
    • Highland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Highland is located in Greenville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
    • Fountain Inn
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Mauldin
      (20 miles [32.2 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>
  • Laurens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westhaven, with the one closest to Westhaven listed first.
    • Gray Court
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Tylersville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Tylersville is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
    • Green Pond
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Green Pond is located in Laurens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westhaven, with the one closest to Westhaven listed first.
    • Colerain
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Colerain is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
    • Jonesville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bonham
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Bonham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
    • Buffalo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Kelly
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Kelly is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
    • Bishop Town ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bishop Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
    • Union
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Bailey Town ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Bailey Town is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
    • Sedalia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Sedalia is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
  • Cleveland County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westhaven, with the one closest to Westhaven listed first.
    • Byersville ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Byersville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byersville
    • Cliffside
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Cliffside is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffside
    • Erwinsville ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Erwinsville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erwinsville
    • Flint Hill ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Flint Hill is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Hill
    • Boiling Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Mooresboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Mooresboro is located in Cleveland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooresboro
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
  • Henderson County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westhaven, with the one closest to Westhaven listed first.
    • Saluda
      (27 miles [43.5 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>
    • Tuxedo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Zirconia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Polk County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westhaven, with the one closest to Westhaven listed first.
    • Tryon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • 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>
    • Columbus
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Lynn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Lynn is located in Polk County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
    • Mill Spring
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Melrose
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Melrose is located in Polk County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
  • Rutherford County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westhaven, with the one closest to Westhaven listed first.
    • Harris
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Harris is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
    • Holly Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Holly Springs is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
    • Shiloh
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Shiloh is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Henrietta
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Henrietta is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
    • Sandy Mush
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Sandy Mush is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Mush
    • Caroleen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Caroleen is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caroleen
    • Alexander Mills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Alexander Mills is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Mills
    • Six Points
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Six Points is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Points
    • Bakersville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Bakersville is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
    • Forest City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Rutherfordton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Spindale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Spindale is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spindale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,175 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spindale <1>
    • Bostic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Bostic is located in Rutherford County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bostic
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 379 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bostic <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Westhaven ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westhaven.

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

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

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

  • Mosse Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Ft. Prince Memorial Gardens
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Seay Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Arkwright Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Magnola Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Nazareth Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Cemetery Hill
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Old City Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old City Cemetery
    • The Old City Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Freemans Cemetery
    • New Colored Cemetery
  • Chapel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Penney - McMillian Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (441 more) ...
    • Oakwood Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Startex Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Greenlawn Memorial Gardens
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)

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

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

  • Fairforest
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Mount Zion
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Zion is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
  • Spartanburg
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Whitney
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Whitney is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
  • Wellford
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Campton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Campton is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campton
  • Duncan
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • 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>
  • Reidville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Moore
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Inman
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Inman is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inman
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,480 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Inman <1>
  • Golightly
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Golightly is located in Spartanburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golightly
  • Glendale
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Converse
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Switzer
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Switzer is located in Spartanburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Switzer
    • Clifton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Westhaven ...

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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westhaven.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westhaven, there are papers which were published within 4 miles [6.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westhaven.

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 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 Westhaven:

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 Westhaven, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Westhaven) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.