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 Drakes Creek (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 Drakes Creek. 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 Drakes Creek ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Drakes Creek: Drakes Crk. (or less commonly used: Drakes Ck. or Drakes Cr.)
- While the name of this community is Drakes Creek, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Drakes Creek may originally have been Drake's Creek.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Drakes Creek might be written as Drake Creek.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Drakes Creek. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Drakes Creek.
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 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.
Drakes Creek is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Newton & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Drakes Creek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Drakes Creek:
- Madison County (The home county of Drakes Creek)
- The following are listed by their distance from Drakes Creek, with the one closest to Drakes Creek listed first.
- Georgetown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Georgetown is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Wesley
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Wesley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
- Japton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Japton is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Japton
- Hindsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Whitener
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Whitener is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitener
- Huntsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Thompson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Thompson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
- Crosses
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Crosses is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosses
- Delaney
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Delaney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaney
- Witter
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Witter is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witter
- Combs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Brashears
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Brashears is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brashears
- Saint Paul
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Saint Paul is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Drakes Creek, with the one closest to Drakes Creek listed first.
- War Eagle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- War Eagle is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for War Eagle
- Bethel Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel Heights is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,970 people
- Silver Springs ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Silver Springs is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Springs
- Lowell
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie Creek is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Creek
- Lost Bridge Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lost Bridge Village is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Bridge Village
- Puckett ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Puckett is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Cave Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cave Springs is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,737 people
- Rogers
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Avoca
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Avoca is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 522 people
- Brightwater
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Brightwater is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brightwater
- Little Flock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Little Flock is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Flock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,812 people
- Garfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Drakes Creek, with the one closest to Drakes Creek listed first.
- Dryfork
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dryfork is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dryfork
- Mundell ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Mundell is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mundell
- Metalton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Metalton is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metalton
- Winona Springs ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Winona Springs is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winona Springs
- Rudd
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Rudd is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudd
- Eureka Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Osage
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Osage is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
- Berryville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gaskins ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Gaskins is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskins
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Drakes Creek, with the one closest to Drakes Creek listed first.
- Bidville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bidville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidville
- Winfrey
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Winfrey is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfrey
- Locke
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Locke is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locke
- Chester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Drakes Creek, with the one closest to Drakes Creek listed first.
- Cass
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Cass is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cass
- Mountain Top
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Mountain Top is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Top
- Watalula
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Watalula is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watalula
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Drakes Creek, with the one closest to Drakes Creek listed first.
- Oark
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Linville ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Linville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Batson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Batson is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batson
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Drakes Creek, with the one closest to Drakes Creek listed first.
- Boxley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Boxley is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boxley
- Mossville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Mossville is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mossville
- Ponca
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Drakes Creek, with the one closest to Drakes Creek listed first.
- Durham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Durham is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
- Elkins
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Goshen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mayfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mayfield is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Harris
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Harris is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Spring Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Valley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Sulphur City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Sulphur City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur City
- Blue Springs Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Springs Village is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Springs Village
- Hazel Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hazel Valley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Valley
- Sonora
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sonora is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonora
- War Eagle Cove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- War Eagle Cove is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for War Eagle Cove
- Brentwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Brentwood is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brentwood
- Fayette Junction
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Fayette Junction is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette Junction
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Drakes Creek, see our County-by-County Page for Drakes Creek.
Cemeteries Near Drakes Creek ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Drakes Creek.
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 Drakes Creek - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Drakes Creek covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Drakes Creek, with the one closest to Drakes Creek listed first.
- Duncan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Liberty Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Parker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Cherry Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wesley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Johnson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Dunaway Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Worley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Eubanks - McChristian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eubanks - McChristian Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Eubanks - McChristian Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<3> to the southwest of Japton.
- The Eubanks - McChristian Cemetery has also been known as:
- Eubanks Cemetery
- McChristian Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2150949 <4>
- Boatrigth Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Wilks - Roberts Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (282 more) ...
- Pinnacle Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Grose Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Groseclos Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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.<5>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Drakes Creek had a population of 110 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Drakes Creek, with the one closest to Drakes Creek listed first.
- Wesley
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Wesley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
- Durham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Durham is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
- Whitener
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Whitener is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitener
- Thompson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Thompson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
- Hindsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Aurora
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Aurora is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Huntsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elkins
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Goshen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Crosses
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Crosses is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosses
- Harris
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Harris is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Sulphur City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Sulphur City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur City
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Delaney
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Delaney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaney
- Spring Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Valley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Patrick
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Patrick is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patrick
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Drakes Creek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Drakes Creek.
Newspapers Published in Drakes Creek ...
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 81 newspapers that have been published in the area around Drakes Creek.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Drakes Creek, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Drakes Creek.
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 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 Drakes Creek:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Madison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Carroll County
- Crawford County
- Franklin County
- Johnson County
- Newton County
- Washington County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Arkansas
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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- Drakes Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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. |
| <5> | 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 Drakes Creek, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |