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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 Coffman (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 Coffman. 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 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.

Coffman 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 Coffman. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Coffman:

  • Lawrence County     (The home county of Coffman)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coffman, with the one closest to Coffman listed first.
    • Portia
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Powhatan
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Black Rock
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Hoxie
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Hoxie is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoxie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,579 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hoxie <1>
    • Walnut Ridge
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Minturn
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Minturn is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minturn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
    • College City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • College City is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College City
      • Estimated population in 2016: 506 people
    • Lynn
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Lynn is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lynn <1>
    • Annieville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Annieville is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annieville
    • Imboden
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Alicia
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Alicia is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alicia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
    • Smithville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Smithville is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coffman, with the one closest to Coffman 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
      (29 miles [46.7 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 Coffman, with the one closest to Coffman listed first.
    • Egypt
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • 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>
    • Bono
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
      (19 miles [30.6 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
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Philadelphia is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Jonesboro
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Obear ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Obear is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obear
    • Brookland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coffman, with the one closest to Coffman listed first.
    • Light
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Light is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Light
    • Walcott
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Walcott is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walcott
    • Delaplaine
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Delaplaine is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaplaine
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Crowley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Crowley is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley
    • Finch
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Finch is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finch
    • Beech Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Beech Grove is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Grove
    • Pine Knot
      (27 miles [43.5 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 Coffman, with the one closest to Coffman listed first.
    • Cord
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Cord is located in Independence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cord
    • Charlotte
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Charlotte is located in Independence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlotte
    • Cave City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coffman, with the one closest to Coffman listed first.
    • Swifton
      (16 miles [25.7 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
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Centerville is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
    • Kenyon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Kenyon is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenyon
    • Tuckerman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Elgin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Elgin is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
    • Grubbs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Grubbs is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grubbs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
    • Campbell Station
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Campbell Station is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Station
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
    • Airport Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Airport Village is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airport Village
    • Diaz
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Diaz is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diaz
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,208 people
  • Randolph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coffman, with the one closest to Coffman listed first.
    • Manson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Manson is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manson
    • Birdell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Birdell is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdell
    • Eleven
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Eleven is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleven
    • Pocahontas
      (15 miles [24.1 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>
    • Skaggs
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Skaggs is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skaggs
    • O'Kean
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • O'Kean is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Kean
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
    • Serene
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Serene is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Serene
    • Water Valley ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Water Valley is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
    • Kingsville ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Kingsville is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsville
    • Lima
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Lima is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lima
    • Elevenpoint
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Elevenpoint is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elevenpoint
    • Ravenden Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 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
  • Sharp County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coffman, with the one closest to Coffman listed first.
    • Williford
      (20 miles [32.2 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
      (22 miles [35.4 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 west)
      • Grange is located in Sharp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grange
    • Hardy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Highland
      (28 miles [45.1 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
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Maxville is located in Sharp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxville
    • Evening Shade
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Coffman ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Coffman.

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

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

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

  • Portia Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Crossroad Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Lauderdale Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Colberk Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Arbor Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Oak Forest Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Powhatan Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Lawson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Phillips Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Clover Bend Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Whitlow Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Kissee Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (356 more) ...
    • Westphal Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Miller Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Austin Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)

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 Coffman in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Coffman.

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

  • Portia
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Powhatan
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Black Rock
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Clover Bend
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Clover Bend is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Bend
  • Hoxie
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Hoxie is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoxie
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,579 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hoxie <1>
  • Minturn
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Minturn is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minturn
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
  • Lindsey
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lindsey is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindsey
  • Walnut Ridge
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Noland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Noland is located in Randolph County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noland
  • Lynn
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Lynn is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lynn <1>
  • Strangers Home
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Strangers Home is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strangers Home
  • Murta
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Murta is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murta
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Alicia
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Alicia is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alicia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
    • Imboden
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Annieville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Annieville is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annieville

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

Newspapers Published in Coffman ...

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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Coffman.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Coffman, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Coffman.

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 Coffman:

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 Coffman, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Coffman) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.