Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Independence. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Independence to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Independence, please Contact Us.
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 Independence (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 Independence. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Independence is historic, it would have been located within present day Baxter 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 Baxter County: Fulton, Izard, Marion, Searcy, Stone & Ozark (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Independence. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Independence:
- Baxter County (The home county of Independence)
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Gassville
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cotter
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Colfax
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Colfax is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colfax
- Midway
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Amos
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Amos is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amos
- Lakeview
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Home
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Buffalo City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Buffalo City is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo City
- Briarcliff
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Briarcliff is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briarcliff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 250 people
- Norfork Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Norfork Village is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norfork Village
- Salesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lone Rock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lone Rock is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Rock
- Clarkridge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Clarkridge is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkridge
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Pleasant Ridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Ridge is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Ridge
- South Lead Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- South Lead Hill is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lead Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Zinc
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Zinc is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zinc
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Lead Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Diamond City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Everton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Elixir ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Elixir is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elixir
- Rally Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rally Hill is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rally Hill
- Keener ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Keener is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keener
- Bergman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Valley Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Valley Springs is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 166 people
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Elizabeth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Gepp
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Gepp is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gepp
- Ott
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ott is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ott
- Bexar
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Viola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Izard County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Iuka
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Iuka is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iuka
- Dolph
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Dolph is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolph
- Calico Rock
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Pineville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Wideman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Wideman is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wideman
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Flippin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rea Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rea Valley is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rea Valley
- Bull Shoals
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Summit
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Summit is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 589 people
- Yellville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rush ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Rush is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rush
- Price Place
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Price Place is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Price Place
- Dodd City ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Dodd City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodd City
- Peel
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bruno
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bruno is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruno
- Monarch
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Monarch is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monarch
- Pyatt
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pyatt is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 234 people
- Newton County
- Western Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Western Grove is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Searcy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Cozahome
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Cozahome is located in Searcy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cozahome
- Harriet
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lone Pine
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lone Pine is located in Searcy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Pine
- Gilbert
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pindall
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pindall is located in Searcy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pindall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
- Saint Joe
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Baker
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Baker is located in Searcy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Marshall
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Stone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Onia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Onia is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onia
- Fifty-Six
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Alco
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Alco is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alco
- Howell County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Ott
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ott is located in Howell County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ott
- Caulfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ozark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Pontiac
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Isabella
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Sundown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sundown is located in Ozark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sundown
- Gainesville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hardenville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Udall
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Udall is located in Ozark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Udall
- Theodosia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Theodosia is located in Ozark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Theodosia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Tecumseh
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ocie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ocie is located in Ozark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocie
- Bakersfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bakersfield is located in Ozark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Longrun
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Longrun is located in Ozark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longrun
- Romance
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Romance is located in Ozark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romance
- Zanoni ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Zanoni is located in Ozark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zanoni
- Taney County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Protem
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rueter
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rueter is located in Taney County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rueter
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Independence, see our County-by-County Page for Independence.
Cemeteries Near Independence ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Independence.
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 Independence - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Independence covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Whiteville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Gassville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cotter Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tucker Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Wesley Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pilgrims Rest Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Amos Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Nelson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Home Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Baxter Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Baker Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (228 more) ...
- Conley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jenkins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Flippin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
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.
Independence itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Gassville
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Buford
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Buford is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buford
- Amos
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Amos is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amos
- Flippin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mountain Home
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Stone ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Stone is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone
- Oakland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Yellville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lone Rock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lone Rock is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Rock
- Rush ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Rush is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rush
- George's Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- George's Creek is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for George's Creek
- Pontiac
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Wake ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Wake is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wake
- Henderson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Prestonia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Prestonia is located in Ozark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prestonia
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Independence. See our List of 1890's Communities around Independence.
Newspapers Published in Independence ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Independence.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Independence, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Independence.
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 helpful 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 Independence:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Baxter County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Fulton County
- Izard County
- Marion County
- Newton County
- Searcy County
- Stone County
- Howell County
- Ozark County
- Taney County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Arkansas
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Independence, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Independence) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |