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 Bethlehem (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 Bethlehem. 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 and 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.
Bethlehem is located in Conway 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 Conway County: Faulkner, Perry, Pope, Van Buren & Yell.
Below are the counties that are near Bethlehem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bethlehem:
- Conway County (The home county of Bethlehem)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Springfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Middleton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Middleton is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
- Solgohachia
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Solgohachia is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solgohachia
- Center Ridge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Plumerville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Menifee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Austin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cleveland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hattieville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Hattieville is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hattieville
- Morrilton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Old Hickory
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Old Hickory is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Hickory
- Jerusalem
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cleburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Quitman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pearson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pearson is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Higden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greers Ferry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Miller ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Miller is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Shiloh ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shiloh is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Faulkner County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Twin Groves
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Twin Groves is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Groves
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Wooster
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Greenbrier
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Guy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Guy is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 792 people
- Conway
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Centerville is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Holland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Holland is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 586 people
- Enders
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Enders is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enders
- Lollie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lollie is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lollie
- Preston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Preston is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston
- Hamlet
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hamlet is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
- Enola
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Enola is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 354 people
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Toad Suck
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Toad Suck is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toad Suck
- Dixie ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dixie is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
- Houston
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bigelow
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Fourche
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Fourche is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fourche
- Population from the 2020 Census: 62 people
- Perry
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Perryville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Little Italy
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Little Italy is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Italy
- Adona
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Adona is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 203 people
- Pope County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Economy
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Economy is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Economy
- Appleton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Appleton is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Atkins
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Wilson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Caglesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Caglesville is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caglesville
- Moreland
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Moreland is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
- Hector
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pottsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pottsville is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,361 people
- Former names for Pottsville:
- Pott's Inn
- Pott's Station
- Holla Bend
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Holla Bend is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holla Bend
- Scottsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Scottsville is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Center Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Center Valley is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Valley
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Monnie Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Monnie Springs is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monnie Springs
- Roland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Natural Steps
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Natural Steps is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natural Steps
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Damascus
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Formosa
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Formosa is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Formosa
- Bee Branch
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bee Branch is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Branch
- Gravesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gravesville is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravesville
- Scotland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Choctaw
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Choctaw is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw
- Green Tree
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Green Tree is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Tree
- Morganton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Morganton is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morganton
- Clinton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Crabtree
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Crabtree is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabtree
- Rex
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Rex is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rex
- Alread
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Alread is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alread
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Rose Bud
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- El Paso
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Romance
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Yell County
- Cotton Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cotton Town is located in Yell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Town
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bethlehem, see our County-by-County Page for Bethlehem.
Cemeteries Near Bethlehem ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bethlehem.
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 Bethlehem - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bethlehem covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Kilgore Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Holly Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cedar Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Scroggin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Middleton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Friendship Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- McMillian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mallet Town Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Abel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (269 more) ...
- Grandview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lanty Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Adams Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<2>
While we didn't find Bethlehem in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bethlehem.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Springfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lick Mountain
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lick Mountain is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Mountain
- Martinville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Martinville is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinville
- Plumerville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Saint Vincent
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Saint Vincent is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Vincent
- Menifee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Wooster
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Greenbrier
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Pinnacle Springs ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Pinnacle Springs is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinnacle Springs
- Damascus
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cleveland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hattieville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Hattieville is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hattieville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Morrilton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Old Hickory
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Old Hickory is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Hickory
- Linder
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Linder is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linder
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bethlehem. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bethlehem.
Newspapers Published in Bethlehem ...
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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bethlehem.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bethlehem, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bethlehem.
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 either 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 Bethlehem:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Conway County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cleburne County
- Faulkner County
- Perry County
- Pope County
- Pulaski County
- Van Buren County
- White County
- Yell 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> | 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 Bethlehem, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Bethlehem) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |