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 Free Hope (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 Free Hope. 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/Parishes ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties/parishes.
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/parishes 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/parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Free Hope is located in Columbia 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 Columbia County: Lafayette, Nevada, Ouachita, Union, Claiborne (LA) & Webster (LA).
Below are the counties/parishes that are near Free Hope. For each of these counties/parishes, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Free Hope:
- Columbia County (The home county of Free Hope)
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Hope, with the one closest to Free Hope listed first.
- McNeil
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Magnolia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Calhoun
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Calhoun is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Village is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village
- Milner ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Milner is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milner
- College Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- College Hill is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Hill
- Waldo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Philadelphia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Philadelphia is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Macedonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Macedonia is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Emerson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Emerson is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
- Horsehead
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Horsehead is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horsehead
- Western
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Western is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
- Taylor
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hempstead County
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Hope, with the one closest to Free Hope listed first.
- Patmos
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Patmos is located in Hempstead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patmos
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Centerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Centerville is located in Hempstead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Lafayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Hope, with the one closest to Free Hope listed first.
- Buckner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Buckner is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckner
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- McKamie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- McKamie is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKamie
- Stamps
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lewisville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Old Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Old Town is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Kress City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Kress City is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kress City
- Nevada County
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Hope, with the one closest to Free Hope listed first.
- Willisville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Willisville is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willisville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- Rosston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Rosston is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 235 people
- Cale
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cale is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Bodcaw
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Bodcaw is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodcaw
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Zama ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Zama is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zama
- Bluff City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Laneburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Laneburg is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laneburg
- Ouachita County
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Hope, with the one closest to Free Hope listed first.
- Stephens
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pace City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pace City is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pace City
- Lufra ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lufra is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lufra
- Liberty
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Louann
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Louann is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louann
- Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
- Cullendale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cullendale is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullendale
- Bragg City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bragg City is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg City
- Camden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chidester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Chidester is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chidester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 256 people
- Joyce City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Joyce City is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joyce City
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Hope, with the one closest to Free Hope listed first.
- Mount Holly
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lisbon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lisbon is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Dodge City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dodge City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Dumas City
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Dumas City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas City
- Smackover
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Sandy Land
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Sandy Land is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Land
- El Dorado
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Norphlet
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Norphlet is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norphlet
- Population from the 2020 Census: 772 people
- Scotland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Scotland is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotland
- Claiborne Parish (LA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Hope, with the one closest to Free Hope listed first.
- Gordon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Gordon is located in Claiborne Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Haynesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Dykesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dykesville is located in Claiborne Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dykesville
- Blackburn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Blackburn is located in Claiborne Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
- Webster Parish (LA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Hope, with the one closest to Free Hope listed first.
- Shongaloo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Springhill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cullen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Free Hope, see our County-by-County Page for Free Hope.
Cemeteries Near Free Hope ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Free Hope.
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 Free Hope - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Free Hope covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Free Hope, with the one closest to Free Hope listed first.
- Free Hope Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Magnolia Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Old Bethel / St. John Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Jameson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. Matthews Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- New Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- New Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Macedonia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Magnolia Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Miller Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hartsfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (234 more) ...
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Green Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- St. Marks Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<3>
While we didn't find Free Hope in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Free Hope.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Free Hope, with the one closest to Free Hope listed first.
- Magnolia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Laughlin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Laughlin is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laughlin
- McNeil
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Calhoun
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Calhoun is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Village is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village
- Milner ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Milner is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milner
- College Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- College Hill is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Hill
- Waldo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Brister
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Brister is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brister
- Spotville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Spotville is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spotville
- Macedonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Macedonia is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Lumber
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lumber is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumber
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Mount Holly
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Horsehead
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Horsehead is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horsehead
- Atlanta
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Atlanta is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlanta
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Free Hope. See our List of 1890's Communities around Free Hope.
Newspapers Published in Free Hope ...
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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Free Hope.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Free Hope, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Free Hope.
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 Free Hope:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Columbia County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hempstead County
- Lafayette County
- Nevada County
- Ouachita County
- Union County
- Claiborne Parish
- Webster Parish
- 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> | 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 Free Hope, 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 from Point A (ie- Free Hope) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |