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 Black Rock (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 Black Rock. 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.
Name Variations for Black Rock ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Another variation: Blackrock.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Black Rock. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Black Rock.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 hospitals and 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.
Black Rock is located in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County: Craighead, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Randolph & Sharp.
Below are the counties that are near Black Rock. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Black Rock:
- Lawrence County (The home county of Black Rock)
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
- Powhatan
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Portia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Imboden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Ridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Annieville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Annieville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annieville
- Hoxie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- College City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- College City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College City
- Estimated population in 2016: 506 people
- Minturn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Minturn is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minturn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Lynn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Smithville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Smithville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Ravenden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Alicia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Alicia is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alicia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Strawberry
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Strawberry is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strawberry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
- Peach Orchard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Peach Orchard is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peach Orchard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
- Datto
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Datto is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Datto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Craighead County
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
- Egypt
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bono
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cash
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Cash is located in Craighead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
- Population from the 2020 Census: 359 people
- Philadelphia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Philadelphia is located in Craighead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Obear ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Obear is located in Craighead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obear
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
- Light
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Light is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Light
- Delaplaine
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Delaplaine is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaplaine
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Walcott
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Walcott is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walcott
- Beech Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Beech Grove is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Grove
- Crowley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Crowley is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley
- Finch
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Finch is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finch
- Pine Knot
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Pine Knot is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Knot
- Independence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
- Cord
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cord is located in Independence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cord
- Cave City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Charlotte
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Charlotte is located in Independence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlotte
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
- Swifton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Swifton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swifton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 733 people
- Centerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Centerville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Kenyon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Kenyon is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenyon
- Elgin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Elgin is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- Tuckerman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
- Birdell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Birdell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdell
- Eleven
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Eleven is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleven
- Manson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Manson is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manson
- Pocahontas
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pocahontas is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,371 people
- Former names for Pocahontas:
- Bettis Bluff
- Betts Bluff
- Pokakhontas
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pocahontas <1>
- Kingsville ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Kingsville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsville
- Water Valley ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Water Valley is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
- Skaggs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Skaggs is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skaggs
- Lima
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lima is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lima
- Ravenden Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ravenden Springs is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenden Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Former names for Ravenden Springs:
- Dream Town
- Jane's Store
- O'Kean
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- O'Kean is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Kean
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Elevenpoint
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Elevenpoint is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elevenpoint
- Serene
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Serene is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Serene
- Attica
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Attica is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Sharp County
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
- Williford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Williford is located in Sharp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Poughkeepsie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Poughkeepsie is located in Sharp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poughkeepsie
- Grange
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Grange is located in Sharp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grange
- Hardy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Highland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Highland is located in Sharp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,105 people
- Maxville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Maxville is located in Sharp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxville
- Cherokee Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wirth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wirth is located in Sharp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wirth
- Evening Shade
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Ash Flat
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Oregon County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
- Myrtle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Myrtle is located in Oregon County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Calm
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Calm is located in Oregon County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calm
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Black Rock, see our County-by-County Page for Black Rock.
Cemeteries Near Black Rock ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Black Rock.
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 Black Rock - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Black Rock covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
- Oak Forest Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Powhatan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Lawson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Portia Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Crossroad Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jenkins Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Nation Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Phillips - Reeves Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Scott Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott Cemetery
- Be careful not to confuse this cemetery with another one that is also named Scott Cemetery (located 82 miles to the north).
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Kelley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sharp Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (357 more) ...
- Lauderdale Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Campbell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sanders Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
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 Black Rock had a population of 761 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Black Rock had a population of 590 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
- Powhatan
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Portia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Noland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Noland is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noland
- Imboden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Clover Bend
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Clover Bend is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Bend
- Hoxie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut Ridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Annieville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Annieville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annieville
- Lindsey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lindsey is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindsey
- Birdell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Birdell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdell
- Lynn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Minturn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Minturn is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minturn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Murta
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Murta is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murta
- Smithville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Smithville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Strangers Home
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Strangers Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strangers Home
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Black Rock. See our List of 1890's Communities around Black Rock.
Newspapers Published in Black Rock ...
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 Black Rock.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Black Rock, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Black Rock.
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 Black Rock:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Lawrence County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Craighead County
- Greene County
- Independence County
- Jackson County
- Randolph County
- Sharp County
- Oregon 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 Black Rock, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Black Rock) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |