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 Alma (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 Alma. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Alma is located in Crawford County.
To see how the shape of Arkansas' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Crawford County: Franklin, Madison, Sebastian, Washington, Adair (OK), Le Flore (OK) & Sequoyah (OK).
Below are the counties that are near Alma. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alma:
- Crawford County (The home county of Alma)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Concord
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Concord is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Rudy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rudy is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Kibler
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Kibler is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,028 people
- New Town
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Town is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Dyer
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Wright Town
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wright Town is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright Town
- Van Buren
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mulberry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cedarville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mountainburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Chester
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Uniontown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Uniontown is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Cecil
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Cecil is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
- Charleston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dahoma ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dahoma is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahoma
- Cravens
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Cravens is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cravens
- Donald ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Donald is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Branch
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Felkner Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Felkner Town is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felkner Town
- White Oak
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- White Oak is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Leon ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Leon is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
- Etna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Etna is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Ozark
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Webb City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Webb City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb City
- Logan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Ratcliff
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Caulksville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Caulksville is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caulksville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Carbon City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Carbon City is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon City
- Lucas
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Lucas is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Booneville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Carolan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Carolan is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolan
- Sebastian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Central City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Central City is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 497 people
- Lavaca
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Barling
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Fort Smith
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bloomer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bloomer is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomer
- Ursula
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ursula is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursula
- Buell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Buell is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buell
- Jenny Lind
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Jenny Lind is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenny Lind
- Greenwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Greenwood is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,396 people
- Bonanza
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bonanza is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonanza
- Population from the 2020 Census: 560 people
- Hackett
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Huntington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Huntington is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 615 people
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Winslow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Strickler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Strickler is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickler
- Onda
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Onda is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onda
- Skylight
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Skylight is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skylight
- Evansville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Evansville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Brentwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Brentwood is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brentwood
- Morrow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Morrow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrow
- Clyde
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Clyde is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Hazel Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hazel Valley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Valley
- Canehill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- West Fork
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Dutch Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dutch Mills is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutch Mills
- Adair County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Bell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bell is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Salem
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Salem is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Cherry Tree
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cherry Tree is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Tree
- Greasy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Greasy is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greasy
- Zion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Zion is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Le Flore County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Arkoma
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Braden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Braden is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braden
- Pocola
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Coffee
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Coffee is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Coffee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
- Rock Island
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rock Island is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Island
- Population from the 2020 Census: 648 people
- Skullyville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Skullyville is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skullyville
- Spiro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Spiro is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spiro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,154 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spiro <1>
- Cameron
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sequoyah County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Moffett
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Short
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Short is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
- Remy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Remy is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Remy
- Roland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Belfonte
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Belfonte is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfonte
- Long
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Long is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long
- Muldrow
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Akins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Akins is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akins
- Stoney Point
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Stoney Point is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Point
- Gans
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Gans is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gans
- Population from the 2020 Census: 296 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gans <1>
- Brushy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Brushy is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy
- Seven Oaks
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Seven Oaks is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Oaks
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alma, see our County-by-County Page for Alma.
Cemeteries Near Alma ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alma.
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 Alma - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alma covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Alma City Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma City Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Alma City Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Alma.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1041985 <2>
- Byers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Old Concord Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Woods Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gregory Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dobbs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Simmons Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Love Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Beal Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Real Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Twelve Corner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Harris Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (340 more) ...
- Deans Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. McCurry Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Winfrey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Alma had a population of 486 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Alma had a population of 5,887 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Rudy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rudy is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Catcher
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Catcher is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catcher
- Dyer
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Belmont ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Belmont is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Lancaster
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lancaster is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lancaster
- Van Buren
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Island
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Island is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island
- Haroldton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Haroldton is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haroldton
- Graphic ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Graphic is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graphic
- Lavaca
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mountainburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Fort Smith
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Massard
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Massard is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massard
- Barling
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Beverly
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Beverly is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alma. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alma.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Alma ...
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 111 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alma.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Alma. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Alma and those printed in the larger area surrounding Alma.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4> of Alma.
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 Alma:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Crawford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Logan County
- Sebastian County
- Washington County
- Adair County
- Le Flore County
- Sequoyah County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Arkansas
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 Alma, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Alma) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |