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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

Although we found mention of Latham during our research, we have little information about it.<1> Given the context of how Latham was mentioned, we believe that it was a community rather than a locale or some type of landmark. We have done a cursory search and if it was a community, we haven't been able to find any evidence that it still exists..

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 Latham (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 Latham. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 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 south 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.

Latham is located in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County: Cleburne, Conway, Faulkner, Searcy & Stone.

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

  • Van Buren County     (The home county of Latham)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latham, with the one closest to Latham listed first.
    • Rex
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Rex is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rex
    • Alread
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Alread is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alread
    • Scotland
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Copeland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Copeland is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copeland
    • Crabtree
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Crabtree is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabtree
    • Formosa
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Formosa is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Formosa
    • Clinton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Choctaw
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Choctaw is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw
    • Dennard
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Green Tree
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Green Tree is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Tree
    • Rumley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Rumley is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumley
    • Bee Branch
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Bee Branch is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Branch
    • Damascus
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Cleburne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latham, with the one closest to Latham listed first.
    • Higden
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Edgemont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Greers Ferry
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Quitman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Shiloh ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Shiloh is located in Cleburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
  • Conway County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latham, with the one closest to Latham listed first.
    • Cleveland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Austin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Jerusalem
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Center Ridge
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Middleton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Middleton is located in Conway County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
    • Old Hickory
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Old Hickory is located in Conway County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Hickory
    • Hattieville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Hattieville is located in Conway County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hattieville
    • Solgohachia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Solgohachia is located in Conway County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solgohachia
    • Springfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Morrilton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Plumerville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Menifee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Faulkner County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latham, with the one closest to Latham listed first.
    • Twin Groves
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Twin Groves is located in Faulkner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Groves
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
    • Guy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Guy is located in Faulkner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 792 people
    • Greenbrier
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Wooster
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Pope County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latham, with the one closest to Latham listed first.
    • Tilly
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Tilly is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilly
    • Appleton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Appleton is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
    • Hector
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Laurel ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Laurel is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
    • Caglesville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Caglesville is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caglesville
    • Oak Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Economy
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Economy is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Economy
    • Moreland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Moreland is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
    • Scottsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Scottsville is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
    • Atkins
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Dover
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Center Valley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Center Valley is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Valley
    • Taral
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Taral is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taral
  • Searcy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latham, with the one closest to Latham listed first.
    • Watts
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Watts is located in Searcy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watts
    • Witt's Springs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Witt's Springs is located in Searcy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witt's Springs
    • Leslie
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Marshall
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Baker
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Baker is located in Searcy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
    • Blanco
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Blanco is located in Searcy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanco
    • Gilbert
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Lone Pine
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Lone Pine is located in Searcy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Pine
  • Stone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Latham, with the one closest to Latham listed first.
    • Fox
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Fox is located in Stone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox
    • Alco
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Alco is located in Stone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alco
    • Timbo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Latham ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Latham.

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

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

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

  • Burke Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Low Gap Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Gardner Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Liberty Springs Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Old Liberty Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Foster Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Crowell Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Rocky Valley Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Lowder Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • McKay Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • New Hope Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • New Hope Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (249 more) ...
    • Reid Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Liberty Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Cato Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Latham had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Edge ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Edge is located in Van Buren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edge
  • Alread
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Alread is located in Van Buren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alread
  • Liberty Springs ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Liberty Springs is located in Van Buren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Springs
  • Scotland
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Copeland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Copeland is located in Van Buren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copeland
  • Claude
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Claude is located in Van Buren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claude
  • Northwood ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Northwood is located in Pope County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwood
  • Cleveland
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Appleton
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Appleton is located in Pope County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
  • Jerusalem
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Clinton
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Smyrna
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Smyrna is located in Pope County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smyrna
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Lick Mountain
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Lick Mountain is located in Conway County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Mountain
    • Choctaw
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Choctaw is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw
    • Dennard
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Latham ...

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 15 newspapers that have been published in the area around Latham.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Latham, 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 Latham.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Latham:

Footnotes ...

<1>If we encounter the name of what might be a community, our methodology is to add that name to our Gazetteer. For example, we might find a sentence like "He went north past Latham and then turned west". While Latham could be some kind of landmark, we think that it's more likely to be a community. We've added Latham as a placeholder with the hope that we'll be able to add more information in the future.

Just as a reminder: Our definition of a community is rather broad and includes those places (or areas) where several families lived and had a name which identified that place. For example, you might hear somebody say that they are going over to Mile's to see Pete ... Mile's is just a gas station and a couple of homes at the crossroads. While it might not be on the map, everybody in the area knows it by that name.

Places of interest include buildings at a crossroad, several families clustered in a hollow or maybe the location of a way station. It also includes places like mines, lumber camps, ferry crossings, etc. The community might still exist, is now gone or only existed for just a short period of time.

Also keep in mind that Latham could have been on the original document by mistake, misspelled, the original/alternate name of a community that we've listed elsewhere or was placed in the wrong county. Sometimes a post office or train station would have a different name than the community where it's located, so two names might be referring to the same community - we're working to straighten it all out.

Since confusion between counties is common, we searched and weren't able to find another Arkansas community named Latham.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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 Latham, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Latham) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.