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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 Bay (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 Bay. 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 southwest 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 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.

Bay is located in Craighead 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 Craighead County: Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett & Dunklin (MO).

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

  • Craighead County     (The home county of Bay)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bay, with the one closest to Bay listed first.
    • Lake City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Jonesboro
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Brookland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Lake View
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake View is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
    • Black Oak
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Black Oak is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Oak
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Philadelphia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Caraway
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Monette
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Obear ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Obear is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obear
    • Bono
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bono is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bono
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,595 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bono <1>
    • Cash
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Cash is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 359 people
    • Red Onion
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Egypt
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Egypt is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Egypt <1>
  • Crittenden County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bay, with the one closest to Bay listed first.
    • Poindexter
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Gilmore
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Gilmore is located in Crittenden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 244 people
    • Heafer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Turrell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Cross County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bay, with the one closest to Bay listed first.
    • Bay Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Bay Village is located in Cross County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Village
    • Twist
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Twist is located in Cross County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twist
    • Cherry Valley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bay, with the one closest to Bay listed first.
    • Finch
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Pine Knot
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Paragould
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Walcott
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Crowley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Light
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Light is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Light
    • Bard
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Oak Grove Heights
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Oak Grove Heights is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,095 people
    • Beech Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Beech Grove is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Grove
  • Jackson County
    • Grubbs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Lawrence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bay, with the one closest to Bay listed first.
    • Sedgwick
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Minturn
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Minturn is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minturn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
    • Alicia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Mississippi County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bay, with the one closest to Bay listed first.
    • West Ridge
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • West Ridge is located in Mississippi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ridge
    • Etowah
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Etowah is located in Mississippi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etowah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 312 people
    • Athelstan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Carroll's Corner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Leachville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Dyess
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Dyess is located in Mississippi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyess
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dyess <1>
    • Whitton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Arkmo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Manila
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Denwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Keiser
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Keiser is located in Mississippi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keiser
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 663 people
    • Bardstown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Birdsong
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Poinsett County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bay, with the one closest to Bay listed first.
    • Trumann
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Hatchie Coon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Greenfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Rivervale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Rivervale is located in Poinsett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rivervale
    • Harrisburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Lepanto
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Marked Tree
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Alto
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Weiner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Black Oak
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Black Oak is located in Poinsett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Oak
    • Tyronza
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Waldenburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Fisher
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Fisher is located in Poinsett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
  • Dunklin County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bay, with the one closest to Bay listed first.
    • Red Onion
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cockrum
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Arkmo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Cardwell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Rington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Arbyrd
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Arbyrd is located in Dunklin County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbyrd
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people

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

Cemeteries Near Bay ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bay.

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

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

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

  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • White Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Jonesboro Memorial Park
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Houston Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Willis Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Lake City Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Nettleton Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Pine Hill Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Tulot Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Ransome Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (183 more) ...
    • McDaniel Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Nober Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Cooper Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)

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 Bay had a population of 100 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Bay had a population of 1,816 people.

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

  • Ridge
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Ridge is located in Craighead County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge
  • Nettleton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Nettleton is located in Craighead County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettleton
  • Buffalolick ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Buffalolick is located in Poinsett County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalolick
  • Hatchie Coon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Lake City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Jonesboro
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Greenfield
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Mangrum
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Mangrum is located in Craighead County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mangrum
  • Brookland
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Harrisburg
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Obear ‑ Historic
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Obear is located in Craighead County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obear
  • Marked Tree
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Bethel
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Bethel is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
    • Macey
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Macey is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macey
    • Bono
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bono is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bono
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,595 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bono <1>

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

Newspapers Published in Bay ...

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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bay.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bay, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bay.

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 Bay:

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 Bay, 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 from Point A (ie- Bay) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.