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 Chester (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 Chester. 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 hospitals 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.
Chester 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 Chester. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Chester:
- Crawford County (The home county of Chester)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Mountainburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Locke
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Locke is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locke
- Winfrey
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Winfrey is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfrey
- Anna ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Anna is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anna
- Lee Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Lee Creek is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Creek
- Bidville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Bidville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidville
- Rudy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rudy is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Mulberry
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cedarville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Natural Dam
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Alma
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dyer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Concord
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Cravens
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cravens is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cravens
- Felkner Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Felkner Town is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felkner Town
- Cass
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Cass is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cass
- Watalula
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Watalula is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watalula
- White Oak
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- White Oak is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Cecil
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cecil is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
- Ozark
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Dahoma ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Dahoma is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahoma
- Webb City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Webb City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb City
- Mountain Top
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Mountain Top is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Top
- Donald ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Donald is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Charleston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Etna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Etna is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Linville ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Linville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Batson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Batson is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batson
- Logan County
- Ratcliff
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Delaney
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Delaney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaney
- Crosses
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Crosses is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosses
- Combs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Thompson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Thompson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
- Brashears
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Brashears is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brashears
- Saint Paul
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Paul is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Dutton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Dutton is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutton
- Japton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Japton is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Japton
- Wesley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wesley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
- Georgetown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Georgetown is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Sebastian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Lavaca
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Central City
(24 miles [38.6 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
- Ursula
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Ursula is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursula
- Fort Smith
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Barling
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bloomer
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Bloomer is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomer
- Buell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Buell is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buell
- Jenny Lind
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Jenny Lind is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenny Lind
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Winslow
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Brentwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Brentwood is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brentwood
- Strickler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Strickler is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickler
- Onda
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Onda is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onda
- Hazel Valley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hazel Valley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Valley
- Skylight
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Skylight is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skylight
- West Fork
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Clyde
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clyde is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Evansville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Evansville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Morrow
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Morrow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrow
- Canehill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Greenland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Greenland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,397 people
- Durham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Durham is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
- Adair County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Bell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Bell is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Salem
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Salem is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Cherry Tree
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Cherry Tree is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Tree
- Stilwell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Zion
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Zion is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Fairfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fairfield is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
- Peavine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Peavine is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peavine
- Marietta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- West Peavine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- West Peavine is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Peavine
- Greasy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Greasy is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greasy
- Westville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lyons
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Lyons is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons
- Lyons has also been known as:
- Lyons Switch
- Le Flore County (OK)
- Arkoma
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sequoyah County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Short
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Short is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
- Belfonte
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Belfonte is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfonte
- Moffett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Remy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Remy is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Remy
- Long
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Long is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long
- Roland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stoney Point
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Stoney Point is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Point
- Muldrow
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Chester, see our County-by-County Page for Chester.
Cemeteries Near Chester ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Chester.
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 Chester - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Chester covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Chester Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Schaberg Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Basham Memorial Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Conley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conley Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Conley Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the southwest of Mountainburg.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #53513 <3>
- Kimes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hatfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pense Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Cain Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Locke Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Peters Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Pope Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (348 more) ...
- Ryles Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Koyle Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Kelton Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Chester had a population of 222 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Chester had a population of 159 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Armada ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Armada is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armada
- Mountainburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Anna ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Anna is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anna
- Lancaster
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Lancaster is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lancaster
- Graphic ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Graphic is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graphic
- Belmont ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Belmont is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Winslow
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Blackburn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Blackburn is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
- Fern
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Fern is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern
- Lee Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Lee Creek is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Creek
- Rudy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rudy is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Bidville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Bidville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Natural Dam
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Alma
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dyer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Chester. See our List of 1890's Communities around Chester.
Newspapers Published in Chester ...
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 80 newspapers that have been published in the area around Chester.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Chester, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Chester.
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 helpful 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 Chester:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Crawford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Johnson County
- Logan County
- Madison 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Chester) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Chester, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |