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Home >> State of Arkansas >> Desha County >> Oaklawn >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Oaklawn (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 Oaklawn. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

Oaklawn is located in Desha 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 Desha County: Arkansas, Chicot, Drew, Lincoln, Phillips & Bolivar (MS).

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

  • Desha County     (The home county of Oaklawn)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oaklawn, with the one closest to Oaklawn listed first.
    • Dumas
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Mitchellville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Mitchellville is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchellville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
    • Pea Ridge
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Pea Ridge is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Ridge
    • Pickens
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Pickens is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickens
    • Hopedale ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Hopedale is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopedale
    • Watson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Kelso
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Kelso is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
    • Rohwer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Reed
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Reed is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
    • McArthur
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • McArthur is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McArthur
    • McGehee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Napoleon ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Napoleon is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoleon
    • Arkansas City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Arkansas City is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansas City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
  • Arkansas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oaklawn, with the one closest to Oaklawn listed first.
    • Gillett
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Tichnor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Bayou Meto
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Bayou Meto is located in Arkansas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Meto
    • De Witt
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Ethel
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Ethel is located in Arkansas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ethel
  • Chicot County
    • Dermott
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
  • Drew County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oaklawn, with the one closest to Oaklawn listed first.
    • Winchester
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Winchester is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
    • Tillar
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Tillar is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
    • Selma
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Selma is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
    • Collins
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Collins is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
    • Rose Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Rose Hill is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
    • Monticello
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oaklawn, with the one closest to Oaklawn listed first.
    • Reydell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Reydell is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reydell
    • Tamo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Tamo is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tamo
    • Moscow
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Moscow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
    • Richardson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Richardson is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richardson
    • Cornerstone
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Cornerstone is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerstone
    • Noble Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Noble Lake is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noble Lake
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oaklawn, with the one closest to Oaklawn listed first.
    • South Bend ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • South Bend is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bend
    • Gould
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Gould is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 719 people
    • Varner
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Varner is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varner
    • Warrenton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Warrenton is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenton
    • Meroney
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Meroney is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meroney
    • Tyro
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Tyro is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyro
    • Grady
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Sarassa
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Sarassa is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarassa
    • Crigler
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Crigler is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crigler
    • Star City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Yorktown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Yorktown is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
    • Palmyra
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Palmyra is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
    • Cornerville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Cornerville is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
  • Phillips County
    • Crumrod
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Crumrod is located in Phillips County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumrod
  • Bolivar County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oaklawn, with the one closest to Oaklawn listed first.
    • Rosedale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Rosedale is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,559 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosedale <1>
    • Eutaw
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Eutaw is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eutaw
    • Wright
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Wright is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Waxhaw
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Waxhaw is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waxhaw
    • Beulah
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Beulah is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
    • Christmas
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Christmas is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christmas
    • Gunnison
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Gunnison is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnison
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
    • Mound Landing
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Mound Landing is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Landing
    • Perthshire
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Perthshire is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perthshire
    • Lake Vista
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Vista is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Vista
    • Scott
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Scott is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
    • Benoit
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Benoit is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benoit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 419 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Benoit <1>
    • Dahomy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Dahomy is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahomy

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

Cemeteries Near Oaklawn ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oaklawn.

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

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

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

  • Leach Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Jerusalem Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Banks Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Free Gift Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Curtis Hall Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Walnut Lake Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Irby Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Jefferson Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Rolling Water Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Barnett Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Gentry Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (204 more) ...
    • Ross Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Thomas Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Oak Grove Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)

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 Oaklawn in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oaklawn.

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

  • Dumas
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Medford ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Medford is located in Desha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medford
  • Pendleton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Pendleton is located in Desha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendleton
  • Reedville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Reedville is located in Desha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedville
  • South Bend ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • South Bend is located in Lincoln County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bend
  • Hopedale ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Hopedale is located in Desha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopedale
  • Winchester
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Winchester is located in Drew County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
  • Red Fork
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Red Fork is located in Desha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Fork
  • Arkansas Post ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Arkansas Post is located in Arkansas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansas Post
  • Watson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Douglas
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Douglas is located in Lincoln County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
  • Warrenton
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Warrenton is located in Lincoln County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenton
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Tillar
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Tillar is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
    • Cummins
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Cummins is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cummins
    • Varner
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Varner is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varner

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

Newspapers Published in Oaklawn ...

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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oaklawn.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oaklawn, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oaklawn.

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 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 Oaklawn:

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 Oaklawn, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Oaklawn) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.