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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 White Oak (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 White Oak. 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.

Name Variations for White Oak ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

Another variation: Whiteoak.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named White Oak. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for White Oak.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 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.

White Oak is located in Clarendon 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 Clarendon County: Berkeley, Calhoun, Florence, Orangeburg, Sumter & Williamsburg.

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

  • Clarendon County     (The home county of White Oak)
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Oak, with the one closest to White Oak listed first.
    • Shad Moss village
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Shad Moss village is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shad Moss village
    • Jordan
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Jordan is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
    • Davis Station
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Summerton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Manning
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Silver
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Silver is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
    • Alcolu
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Panola
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Panola is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
    • Paxville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Gable
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Sardinia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Union Crossroads
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Union Crossroads is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Crossroads
  • Berkeley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Oak, with the one closest to White Oak listed first.
    • Eadytown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Eadytown is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eadytown
    • Region Town ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Region Town is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Region Town
    • Judge Town
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Judge Town is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judge Town
    • Pineville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Cross
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Russellville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Saint Stephen
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Sandridge
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Sandridge is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandridge
    • Harris Town
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Harris Town is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Town
    • Bonneau
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Pinopolis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Alvin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Alvin is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvin
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Oak, with the one closest to White Oak listed first.
    • Creston
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Creston is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
    • Cameron
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Cameron is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
  • Dorchester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Oak, with the one closest to White Oak listed first.
    • Harleyville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Dorchester
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Florence County
    • Olanta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Orangeburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Oak, with the one closest to White Oak listed first.
    • Ferguson ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Ferguson is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
    • Eutawville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Green Town
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Green Town is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Town
    • Possum Town
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Possum Town is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Town
    • Vance
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Vance is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vance
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vance <1>
    • Santee
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Parler
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Parler is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parler
    • Holly Hill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Wells
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Wells is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells
    • Elloree
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Bowman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Sumter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Oak, with the one closest to White Oak listed first.
    • Pinewood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Lakewood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Lakewood is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Privateer
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Privateer is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privateer
    • South Sumter
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • South Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Sumter
    • Ashley Creek Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Ashley Creek Village is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Creek Village
    • East Sumter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • East Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sumter
    • Sumter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Millwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Millwood is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
    • Mulberry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Mulberry is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
    • Cane Savannah
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
    • Sumter Junction
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Sumter Junction is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumter Junction
    • Shiloh
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Shiloh is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
  • Williamsburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Oak, with the one closest to White Oak listed first.
    • Greeleyville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Lane
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Lane is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lane
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 443 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lane <1>
    • Salters
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Kingstree
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Terrell Crossroad
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Terrell Crossroad is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrell Crossroad
    • Cades
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Moore Crossroads
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Moore Crossroads is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Crossroads

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

Cemeteries Near White Oak ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of White Oak.

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 White Oak - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Rehoboth Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Fellowship Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Bluefield Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Thomas Walter Grave
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • St. Paul Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Ridgill Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Butler Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Manning Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Walnut Grove Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Rocks Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Mexico Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (200 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.<3>

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

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

  • Jordan
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Jordan is located in Clarendon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
  • Davis Station
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Summerton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Manning
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Eadytown
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Eadytown is located in Berkeley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eadytown
  • Foreston
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Foreston is located in Clarendon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foreston
  • Saint Paul
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Saint Paul is located in Clarendon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
  • Silver
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Silver is located in Clarendon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
  • Alcolu
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Panola
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Panola is located in Clarendon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
  • Greeleyville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Vance
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Vance is located in Orangeburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vance
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vance <1>
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Harvin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Harvin is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvin
    • Parler
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Parler is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parler
    • Connors ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Connors is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Connors

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

Newspapers Published in White Oak ...

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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around White Oak.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of White Oak, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for White Oak.

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 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 White Oak:

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 White Oak, 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- White Oak) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.