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 Fort Chaffee (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 Fort Chaffee. 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 Fort Chaffee ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Fort Chaffee: Ft. Chaffee
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.
Fort Chaffee is located in Sebastian 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 Sebastian County: Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Scott, Le Flore (OK) & Sequoyah (OK).
Below are the counties that are near Fort Chaffee. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Fort Chaffee:
- Sebastian County (The home county of Fort Chaffee)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Chaffee, with the one closest to Fort Chaffee listed first.
- Barling
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Central City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Central City is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 497 people
- Jenny Lind
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jenny Lind is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenny Lind
- Buell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Buell is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buell
- Fort Smith
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lavaca
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Greenwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,396 people
- Bonanza
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bonanza is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonanza
- Population from the 2020 Census: 560 people
- Bloomer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Bloomer is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomer
- Hackett
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ursula
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Ursula is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursula
- Midland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Midland is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
- Huntington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Huntington is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 615 people
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Chaffee, with the one closest to Fort Chaffee listed first.
- Wright Town
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Wright Town is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright Town
- Kibler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Kibler is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,028 people
- New Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- New Town is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Van Buren
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Concord
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Concord is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Alma
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Rudy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Rudy is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Dyer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cedarville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Mulberry
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Uniontown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Uniontown is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Barcelona
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Barcelona is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barcelona
- Mountainburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Chaffee, with the one closest to Fort Chaffee listed first.
- Charleston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Leon ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Leon is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
- Dahoma ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Dahoma is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahoma
- Branch
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Donald ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Donald is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Cecil
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cecil is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
- Etna
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Etna is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Cravens
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cravens is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cravens
- Webb City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Webb City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb City
- Felkner Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Felkner Town is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felkner Town
- Ozark
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- White Oak
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- White Oak is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Logan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Chaffee, with the one closest to Fort Chaffee listed first.
- Lucas
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lucas is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Ratcliff
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Carolan
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Carolan is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolan
- Caulksville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Caulksville is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caulksville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Booneville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Golden City ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Golden City is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden City
- Carbon City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Carbon City is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon City
- Magazine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Magazine is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magazine
- Population from the 2020 Census: 824 people
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Chaffee, with the one closest to Fort Chaffee listed first.
- Bates
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Bates is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bates
- Winfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Winfield is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfield
- Le Flore County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Chaffee, with the one closest to Fort Chaffee listed first.
- Arkoma
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Pocola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Braden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Braden is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braden
- Rock Island
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rock Island is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Island
- Population from the 2020 Census: 648 people
- Fort Coffee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Fort Coffee is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Coffee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
- Skullyville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Skullyville is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skullyville
- Cameron
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Spiro
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Spiro is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spiro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,154 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spiro <1>
- Panama
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Shady Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Monroe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Poteau
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cowlington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Cowlington is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
- Sequoyah County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Chaffee, with the one closest to Fort Chaffee listed first.
- Moffett
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Roland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Remy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Remy is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Remy
- Muldrow
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Long
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Long is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long
- Short
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Short is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
- Belfonte
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Belfonte is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfonte
- Gans
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Gans is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gans
- Population from the 2020 Census: 296 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gans <1>
- Akins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Akins is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akins
- Seven Oaks
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Seven Oaks is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Oaks
- Brent
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Brent is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brent
- Stoney Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Stoney Point is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Point
- Sallisaw
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Fort Chaffee, see our County-by-County Page for Fort Chaffee.
Cemeteries Near Fort Chaffee ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fort Chaffee.
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 Fort Chaffee - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Fort Chaffee covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Fort Chaffee, with the one closest to Fort Chaffee listed first.
- St. Marys Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Barling Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mc Coy Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Laura A Nolan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Steep Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wisely Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- White & Shelby Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Mc Allister Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Inoian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Mayberry Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Douglass Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (309 more) ...
- Jenny Lind Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Gentry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- William Teague Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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 Fort Chaffee in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Fort Chaffee.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Fort Chaffee, with the one closest to Fort Chaffee listed first.
- Barling
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Crescent
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Crescent is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
- Massard
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Massard is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massard
- Jenny Lind
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jenny Lind is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenny Lind
- Haroldton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Haroldton is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haroldton
- Buell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Buell is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buell
- Fort Smith
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Catcher
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Catcher is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catcher
- Cavanaugh
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cavanaugh is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cavanaugh
- Enterprise
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Enterprise is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Excelsior
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Excelsior is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Greenwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,396 people
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Lavaca
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bloomer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Bloomer is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomer
- Jenson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Jenson is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenson
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Fort Chaffee. See our List of 1890's Communities around Fort Chaffee.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Fort Chaffee ...
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 142 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fort Chaffee.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Fort Chaffee. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Fort Chaffee and those printed in the larger area surrounding Fort Chaffee.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3> of Fort Chaffee.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Fort Chaffee:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Sebastian County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Crawford County
- Franklin County
- Logan County
- Scott 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> | 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 Fort Chaffee, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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 from Point A (ie- Fort Chaffee) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |