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 Oark (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 Oark. 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 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.
Oark is located in Johnson 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 Johnson County: Franklin, Logan, Madison, Newton, Pope & Yell.
Below are the counties that are near Oark. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oark:
- Johnson County (The home county of Oark)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oark, with the one closest to Oark listed first.
- Batson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Batson is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batson
- Ozone
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Linville ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Linville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Harmony
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Harmony is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- Lone Pine
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Lone Pine is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Pine
- Smeadley ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Smeadley is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smeadley
- Union City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Union City is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
- Ludwig
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ludwig is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludwig
- Strawberry
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Strawberry is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strawberry
- Clarksville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Hartman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hartman is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 552 people
- Coal Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oark, with the one closest to Oark listed first.
- Bidville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Bidville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidville
- Locke
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Locke is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locke
- Winfrey
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Winfrey is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfrey
- Mulberry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oark, with the one closest to Oark listed first.
- Mountain Top
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mountain Top is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Top
- Cass
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cass is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cass
- Watalula
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Watalula is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watalula
- Wiederkehr Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wiederkehr Village is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiederkehr Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
- Felkner Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Felkner Town is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felkner Town
- White Oak
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- White Oak is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Altus
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ozark
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Alix
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Alix is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alix
- Denning
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Denning is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
- Population from the 2020 Census: 250 people
- Cravens
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cravens is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cravens
- Webb City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Webb City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb City
- Logan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oark, with the one closest to Oark listed first.
- Morrison Bluff
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Morrison Bluff is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison Bluff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 78 people
- Cotton Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Cotton Town is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Town
- Scranton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Scranton is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scranton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 233 people
- Sand Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sand Ridge is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
- Subiaco
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- New Blaine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Paris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Carbon City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Carbon City is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon City
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oark, with the one closest to Oark listed first.
- Pettigrew
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Boston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Boston is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston
- Dutton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dutton is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutton
- Saint Paul
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Paul is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Brashears
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Brashears is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brashears
- Combs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Witter
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Witter is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witter
- Delaney
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Delaney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaney
- Crosses
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Crosses is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosses
- Japton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Japton is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Japton
- Kingston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Georgetown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Georgetown is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oark, with the one closest to Oark listed first.
- Walnut
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Limestone
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Limestone is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone
- Mossville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mossville is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mossville
- Swain
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Swain is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swain
- Boxley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Boxley is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boxley
- Deer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Murray
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Murray is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Parthenon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ponca
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jasper
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pope County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oark, with the one closest to Oark listed first.
- Silex
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Silex is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silex
- Ross
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ross is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Augsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Augsburg is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augsburg
- Georgetown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Georgetown is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- London
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oark, with the one closest to Oark listed first.
- Hazel Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hazel Valley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Valley
- Durham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Durham is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oark, see our County-by-County Page for Oark.
Cemeteries Near Oark ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oark.
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 Oark - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oark covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oark, with the one closest to Oark listed first.
- Miller Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Evans Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Good Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sherman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Yager Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hailey Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dowd Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Buckhorn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hignite Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Liberty Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Brendle Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (302 more) ...
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Watson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Edwards Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Oark had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oark, with the one closest to Oark listed first.
- Batson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Batson is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batson
- Linville ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Linville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Ozone
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fallsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fallsville is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallsville
- Mountain Top
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mountain Top is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Top
- Harmony
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Harmony is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- Boston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Boston is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston
- Dutton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dutton is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutton
- Hunt
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hunt is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt
- Smeadley ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Smeadley is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smeadley
- Walnut
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Cass
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cass is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cass
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Ludwig
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ludwig is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludwig
- Zadock ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Zadock is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zadock
- Ryker
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ryker is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryker
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oark. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oark.
Newspapers Published in Oark ...
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 43 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oark.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oark, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oark.
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 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 Oark:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Johnson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Crawford County
- Franklin County
- Logan County
- Madison County
- Newton County
- Pope County
- Washington 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> | 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 Oark, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Oark) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |