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 Oak Park (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 Oak Park. 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 doctors and 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.
Oak Park 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 Oak Park. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oak Park:
- Sebastian County (The home county of Oak Park)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Fort Smith
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Buell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Buell is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buell
- Barling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Central City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Central City is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 497 people
- Bonanza
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bonanza is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonanza
- Population from the 2020 Census: 560 people
- Jenny Lind
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Jenny Lind is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenny Lind
- Lavaca
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hackett
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Bloomer
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomer is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomer
- Greenwood
(16 miles [25.7 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
- Ursula
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ursula is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursula
- Midland
(23 miles [37 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
(25 miles [40.2 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 Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Van Buren
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wright Town
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Wright Town is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright Town
- Concord
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Concord is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Kibler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Kibler is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,028 people
- Alma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rudy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rudy is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- New Town
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- New Town is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Cedarville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Uniontown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Uniontown is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Barcelona
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Barcelona is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barcelona
- Dyer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Natural Dam
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lee Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Lee Creek is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Creek
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Charleston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dahoma ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Dahoma is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahoma
- Cecil
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Cecil is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
- Donald ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Donald is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Leon ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Leon is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
- Branch
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cravens
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cravens is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cravens
- Etna
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Etna is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Felkner Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Felkner Town is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felkner Town
- White Oak
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- 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 Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Ratcliff
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Lucas
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lucas is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Caulksville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Caulksville is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caulksville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Evansville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Evansville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Skylight
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Skylight is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skylight
- Strickler
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Strickler is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickler
- Morrow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Morrow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrow
- Winslow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Onda
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Onda is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onda
- Adair County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Bell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bell is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Greasy
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Greasy is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greasy
- Cherry Tree
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cherry Tree is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Tree
- Salem
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Salem is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Bunch
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Zion
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Zion is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Lyons
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lyons is located in Adair County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons
- Lyons has also been known as:
- Lyons Switch
- Stilwell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Le Flore County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Arkoma
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Braden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Braden is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braden
- Pocola
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Fort Coffee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- 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 southwest)
- Skullyville is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skullyville
- Rock Island
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Rock Island is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Island
- Population from the 2020 Census: 648 people
- Spiro
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- 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>
- Cameron
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Panama
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cowlington
(23 miles [37 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
- Shady Point
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bokoshe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Poteau
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sequoyah County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Moffett
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Roland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Remy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Remy is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Remy
- Long
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Long is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long
- Short
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Short is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
- Muldrow
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Belfonte
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Belfonte is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfonte
- Akins
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Akins is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akins
- Gans
(17 miles [27.4 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>
- Stoney Point
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stoney Point is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Point
- Seven Oaks
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Seven Oaks is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Oaks
- Brushy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brushy is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy
- Sallisaw
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oak Park, see our County-by-County Page for Oak Park.
Cemeteries Near Oak Park ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oak Park.
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 Oak Park - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oak Park covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Newlon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Washington Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Forest Park Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Rose Lawn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Ft. Smith National Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Peevyhouse Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Crow Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Grace Lawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Calvary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Oak Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (307 more) ...
- Gill Crawford Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Gills Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Stevenson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Oak Park in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oak Park.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
- Van Buren
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dora
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dora is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dora
- Fort Smith
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Massard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Massard is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massard
- Catcher
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Catcher is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catcher
- Cavanaugh
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Cavanaugh is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cavanaugh
- Buell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Buell is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buell
- Barling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Haroldton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Haroldton is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haroldton
- Alma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rudy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rudy is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Crescent
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Crescent is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Uniontown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Uniontown is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Enterprise
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Enterprise is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Barcelona
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Barcelona is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barcelona
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oak Park. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oak Park.
Newspapers Published in Oak Park ...
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 119 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oak Park.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oak Park, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oak Park.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Oak Park:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Sebastian County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Crawford County
- Franklin County
- Logan County
- Washington County
- Adair 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> | 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> | 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- Oak Park) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Oak Park, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |