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 Donaldson (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 Donaldson. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Donaldson is located in Hot Spring 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 Hot Spring County: Clark, Dallas, Garland, Grant, Montgomery & Saline.
Below are the counties that are near Donaldson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Donaldson:
- Hot Spring County (The home county of Donaldson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Midway
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Midway is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
- Saginaw
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Saginaw is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
- Etta ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Etta is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etta
- Friendship
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Friendship is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Population from the 2020 Census: 191 people
- Social Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Social Hill is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Social Hill
- Rolla
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Rolla is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolla
- Malvern
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lono
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lono is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lono
- Perla
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Perla is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perla
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- Rockport
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Rockport is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 710 people
- Magnet Cove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Magnet Cove is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet Cove
- Estimated population in 2014: 5 people
- Butterfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Butterfield is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Joan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Joan is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joan
- Caddo Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Caddo Valley is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caddo Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 635 people
- Arkadelphia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Griffithtown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Griffithtown is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffithtown
- Gum Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gum Springs is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gum Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Curtis
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Curtis is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis
- Vaden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Vaden is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaden
- Gurdon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Alpine
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Alpine is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpine
- Beirne
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Beirne is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beirne
- Okolona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whelen Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Whelen Springs is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whelen Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Dalark
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dalark is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalark
- Manning
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Manning is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manning
- Sparkman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Sparkman is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparkman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 359 people
- Carthage
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Carthage is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
- Population from the 2020 Census: 286 people
- Bunn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bunn is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunn
- Garland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Price
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Price is located in Garland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Price
- Lake Hamilton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hot Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rockwell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rockwell is located in Garland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwell
- Lonsdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Piney
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Piney is located in Garland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney
- Pearcy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fountain Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Fountain Lake is located in Garland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 576 people
- Royal
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Pine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Meyers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Meyers is located in Garland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyers
- Hot Springs Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Grant County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Poyen
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Poyen is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poyen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Leola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Prattsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Dogwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Dogwood is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood
- Turin ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Turin is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turin
- Tull
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Tull is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tull
- Population from the 2020 Census: 464 people
- Cherry Grove ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cherry Grove is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
- Slabtown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Slabtown is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slabtown
- Sheridan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Saline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Traskwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Traskwood is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Traskwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 549 people
- Fairplay ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fairplay is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairplay
- Haskell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Rubicon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Rubicon is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rubicon
- Shaw
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Shaw is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
- Benton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kentucky
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kentucky is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentucky
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Donaldson, see our County-by-County Page for Donaldson.
Cemeteries Near Donaldson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Donaldson.
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 Donaldson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Donaldson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Ouachita Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Midway Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Jones Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Spencer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer Cemetery
- The Spencer Cemetery has also been known as:
- Borland Cemetery
- Neighbors Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rest Haven Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rest Haven Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sardis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ward Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Beason Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (194 more) ...
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Calwell Chapel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Manning Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Donaldson had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Donaldson had a population of 300 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Donaldson, with the one closest to Donaldson listed first.
- Elmore ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Elmore is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
- Etta ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Etta is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etta
- Friendship
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Friendship is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Population from the 2020 Census: 191 people
- Witherspoon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Witherspoon is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witherspoon
- Social Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Social Hill is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Social Hill
- Joan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Joan is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joan
- Daleville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Daleville is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daleville
- Malvern
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sanders ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sanders is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanders
- De Roche
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- De Roche is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Roche
- Arkadelphia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Willow
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Willow is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Lono
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lono is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lono
- Dalark
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dalark is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalark
- Gifford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Gifford is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gifford
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Donaldson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Donaldson.
Newspapers Published in Donaldson ...
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 60 newspapers that have been published in the area around Donaldson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Donaldson, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Donaldson.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Donaldson:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Hot Spring County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clark County
- Dallas County
- Garland County
- Grant County
- Saline 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> | 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- Donaldson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Donaldson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |