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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 Edwards (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 Edwards. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Edwards is located in Prairie 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 Prairie County: Arkansas, Lonoke, Monroe, White & Woodruff.

Below are the counties that are near Edwards. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Edwards:

  • Prairie County     (The home county of Edwards)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Hickory Plains
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Hickory Plains is located in Prairie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Plains
    • Des Arc
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Screeton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Screeton is located in Prairie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screeton
    • Cuneo ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Cuneo is located in Prairie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuneo
    • Sand Hill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Sand Hill is located in Prairie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Hill
    • Hazen
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Hazen is located in Prairie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazen
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,330 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hazen <1>
    • Little Dixie
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Little Dixie is located in Prairie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Dixie
    • De Valls Bluff
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Tollville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Tollville is located in Prairie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tollville
    • Biscoe
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Biscoe is located in Prairie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biscoe
    • Fredonia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Fredonia is located in Prairie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
    • Brasfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Brasfield is located in Prairie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brasfield
  • Cleburne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Rainbow Island
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Rainbow Island is located in Cleburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rainbow Island
    • Yuba
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Yuba is located in Cleburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuba
  • Faulkner County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Otto
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Otto is located in Faulkner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
    • Mount Vernon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Mount Vernon is located in Faulkner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
    • Vilonia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Enola
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Enola is located in Faulkner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 354 people
    • Beryl
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Beryl is located in Faulkner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beryl
    • Hamlet
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Hamlet is located in Faulkner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
    • Holland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Holland is located in Faulkner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 586 people
  • Lonoke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Oak Grove
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Lonoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Ward
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Ward is located in Lonoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,486 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ward <1>
    • Austin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Austin is located in Lonoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,504 people
    • Cabot
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Cabot is located in Lonoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabot
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,466 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cabot <1>
    • Parnell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Parnell is located in Lonoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Carlisle
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • McCreanor
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • McCreanor is located in Lonoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCreanor
    • Sisemore
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Sisemore is located in Lonoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sisemore
    • Lonoke
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Bayou Meto
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Bayou Meto is located in Lonoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Meto
    • Parkers Corner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Parkers Corner is located in Lonoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkers Corner
    • Seaton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Seaton is located in Lonoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seaton
    • Cobbs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Cobbs is located in Lonoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbs
  • Pulaski County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Jacksonville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Gravel Ridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • McAlmont
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • McAlmont is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McAlmont
    • Sherwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Gibson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Gibson is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
    • Booker
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Booker is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booker
    • Scott
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Rose City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Rose City is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose City
    • Willowdale ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Willowdale is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowdale
    • Argenta ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Argenta is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argenta
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • McRae
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • McRae is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRae
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 671 people
    • Beebe
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Garner
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Walker
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Walker is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
    • Griffithville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Griffithville is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffithville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
    • Higginson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Higginson is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higginson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 743 people
    • Searcy
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Floyd
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Floyd is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floyd
    • Kensett
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • West Point
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • West Point is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 176 people
    • Center Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Center Hill is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
    • El Paso
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Judsonia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Woodruff County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Edwards, with the one closest to Edwards listed first.
    • Gregory
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Gregory is located in Woodruff County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregory
    • Flynn ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Flynn is located in Woodruff County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flynn
    • Cotton Plant
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Augusta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Edwards ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Edwards.

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

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

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

  • Bryles Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Bass Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Green Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Butlerville Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Cheek Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Harper Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • New Hope Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Powell Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Monk Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Allison Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (193 more) ...
    • Sylvania Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Hebron Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Tucker Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<3>

While we didn't find Edwards in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Edwards.

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

  • Butlerville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Butlerville is located in Lonoke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butlerville
  • Hickory Plains
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Hickory Plains is located in Prairie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Plains
  • McRae
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • McRae is located in White County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRae
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 671 people
  • Beebe
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Wattensaw
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Wattensaw is located in Lonoke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattensaw
  • Garner
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Egbert ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Egbert is located in White County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egbert
  • Walker
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Walker is located in White County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
  • Ward
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Ward is located in Lonoke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,486 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ward <1>
  • Antioch
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Antioch is located in White County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
  • Austin
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Austin is located in Lonoke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,504 people
  • Cabot
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Cabot is located in Lonoke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabot
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,466 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cabot <1>
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Higginson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Higginson is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higginson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 743 people
    • Parnell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Parnell is located in Lonoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Barrettsville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Barrettsville is located in Prairie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrettsville

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

Newspapers Published in Edwards ...

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 50 newspapers that have been published in the area around Edwards.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Edwards, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Edwards.

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 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 Edwards:

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 Edwards, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Edwards) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.