Pickens County, SC GPS Mapping Values

01 Jun 2008

In 1978, our Department of Defense started to create a network of 24 satellites intended for military applications. This was called the Global Positioning System (GPS). They wanted to give field soldiers the ability to tell where they were located, in what direction they were going, and how far they had to go.  The satellite network was completed in 1994. In the 1980's, the government made it available for civilian use. 

Detailed cemetery finding maps can be drawn by using these satellite GPS Latitude & Longitude values, but you'll need to use a map drawing software program like StreetAtlas or  Microsoft Streets & Trips.  You can also use an on-line map drawing service like Google Maps.

1. First of all, you need to visit the Pickens County GenWeb Tombstone Project webpages at http://sciway3.net/scgenweb/pickens-county/cemetery-html/pickens.html to obtain your cemetery's GPS values or obtain it from another reference source.

2. To draw an on-line cemetery finding map, you need to visit the Google Mapping Service at http://maps.google.com/maps. 

3. Then you enter your selected cemetery's GPS value in the Google "SEARCH MAPS" box.

4. Example: P211 Abbott Family the GPS value is entered in the "box" as  >  N34 46.890, W82 42.406                        

   (Note the change in the GPS input format.  A "," is used to divide the two values, not "e" or "x".)

5. For different map detail, use the (+) or (-) Zoom buttons.

P221 Abbott Family   (Estimated Value)
.5m W of Liberty

GPS = N34 46.890 e W82 42.406

P221 Abbott Family  (Actual Recorded Value)
.5m W of Liberty

GPS = N34 46.890 x W82 42.406

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