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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 Benzal (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 Benzal. 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.

Benzal is located in Arkansas County.

To see how the shape of Arkansas' counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Arkansas County: Desha, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lonoke, Monroe, Phillips & Prairie.

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

  • Arkansas County     (The home county of Benzal)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Benzal, with the one closest to Benzal listed first.
    • Tichnor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Gillett
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Ethel
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ethel
      • Ethel is located in Arkansas County
    • De Witt
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Bayou Meto
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Meto
      • Bayou Meto is located in Arkansas County
    • Saint Charles
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Crockett's Bluff
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crockett's Bluff
      • Crockett's Bluff is located in Arkansas County
  • Desha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Benzal, with the one closest to Benzal listed first.
    • Snow Lake
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Snow Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Lake
      • Snow Lake is located in Desha County
    • Watson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Pea Ridge
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Ridge
      • Pea Ridge is located in Desha County
    • Napoleon ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Napoleon. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoleon
      • Napoleon is located in Desha County
    • Kelso
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
      • Kelso is located in Desha County
    • Rohwer
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Dumas
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Mitchellville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mitchellville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchellville
      • Mitchellville is located in Desha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
    • Pickens
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pickens have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickens
      • Pickens is located in Desha County
    • McArthur
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McArthur
      • McArthur is located in Desha County
    • Reed
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reed have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed
      • Reed is located in Desha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
    • Arkansas City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Arkansas City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansas City
      • Arkansas City is located in Desha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
    • McGehee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Drew County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Benzal, with the one closest to Benzal listed first.
    • Winchester
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
      • Winchester is located in Drew County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
    • Tillar
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tillar have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillar
      • Tillar is located in Drew County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
  • Jefferson County
    • Reydell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reydell
      • Reydell is located in Jefferson County
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Benzal, with the one closest to Benzal listed first.
    • Gould
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
      • Gould is located in Lincoln County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 719 people
    • Varner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varner
      • Varner is located in Lincoln County
    • Warrenton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Warrenton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenton
      • Warrenton is located in Lincoln County
  • Phillips County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Benzal, with the one closest to Benzal listed first.
    • Crumrod
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crumrod have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumrod
      • Crumrod is located in Phillips County
    • Mellwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mellwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellwood
      • Mellwood is located in Phillips County
    • Lambrook
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lambrook have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambrook
      • Lambrook is located in Phillips County
    • Elaine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elaine have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elaine
      • Elaine is located in Phillips County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 481 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elaine <1>
  • Bolivar County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Benzal, with the one closest to Benzal listed first.
    • Wright
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
      • Wright is located in Bolivar County (MS)
    • Gunnison
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnison
      • Gunnison is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
    • Rosedale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
      • Rosedale is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,559 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosedale <1>
    • Waxhaw
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waxhaw
      • Waxhaw is located in Bolivar County (MS)
    • Perthshire
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Perthshire have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perthshire
      • Perthshire is located in Bolivar County (MS)
    • Round Lake
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Lake
      • Round Lake is located in Bolivar County (MS)
    • Beulah
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
      • Beulah is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
    • Christmas
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christmas
      • Christmas is located in Bolivar County (MS)
    • Mound City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
      • Mound City is located in Bolivar County (MS)
    • Shelby
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shelby have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
      • Shelby is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,910 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Shelby <1>
    • Pace
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pace have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pace
      • Pace is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 238 people
    • Duncan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Duncan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
      • Duncan is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
    • Eutaw
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eutaw have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eutaw
      • Eutaw is located in Bolivar County (MS)
  • Coahoma County (MS)
    • Sunflower Landing
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sunflower Landing have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunflower Landing
      • Sunflower Landing is located in Coahoma County (MS)

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

Newspapers Published in Benzal ...

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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Benzal.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Benzal, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Benzal.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Benzal:

Cemeteries Near Benzal ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Benzal.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Old Menard Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Old Menard Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Old Menard Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Menard Cemetery
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Old Menard Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2376658 <5>
  • Hockenberry Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Gardener Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Gardener Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Gardener Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #53989 <5>
  • Coose / Menard Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Coose / Menard Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • The Coose / Menard Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Coose Cemetery
    • Menard Cemetery
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Coose / Menard Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #55063 <5>
  • Gum Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Gum Grove Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Gum Grove Cemetery
  • Porter Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Porter Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Porter Cemetery
  • Morgan Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Morgan Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Morgan Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #55115 <5>
  • Gentry Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Gentry Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Gentry Cemetery
  • Barnett Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Barnett Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Barnett Cemetery
  • Turner Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Turner Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Turner Cemetery
  • Henrico Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Henrico Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Henrico Cemetery
  • Massey Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Massey Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Massey Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #54944 <5>
  • Continue List   (167 more) ...
    • Morgan Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Morgan Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Morgan Cemetery
    • Malcolm Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Thompsons Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Thompsons Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Thompsons Cemetery

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.<6>

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

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

  • Red Fork
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Red Fork have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Fork
    • Red Fork is located in Desha County
  • Watson
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Henrico ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Henrico have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrico
    • Henrico is located in Desha County
  • White River
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for White River have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White River
    • White River is located in Desha County
  • Arkansas Post ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Arkansas Post have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansas Post
    • Arkansas Post is located in Arkansas County
  • Medford ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Medford have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medford
    • Medford is located in Desha County
  • Wright
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Wright is located in Bolivar County (MS)
  • Tichnor
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Rosedale
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
    • Rosedale is located in Bolivar County (MS)
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,559 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosedale <1>
  • Gunnison
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnison
    • Gunnison is located in Bolivar County (MS)
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
  • Concordia
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Concordia have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concordia
    • Concordia is located in Bolivar County (MS)
  • Laconia
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Laconia have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laconia
    • Laconia is located in Desha County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Pendleton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pendleton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendleton
      • Pendleton is located in Desha County
    • Perthshire
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Perthshire have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perthshire
      • Perthshire is located in Bolivar County (MS)
    • Deluce
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Deluce have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deluce
      • Deluce is located in Arkansas County

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

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Benzal. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Arkansas: https://portal.arkansas.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Benzal) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Benzal. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 33.9990, Longitude: -91.1615       In this case, the coordinates for Benzal have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>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.
<6>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 Benzal, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024