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 Otter Creek (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 Otter Creek. 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.
Name Variations for Otter Creek ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Ottercreek.
- A typical abbreviation for Otter Creek: Otter Crk. (or less commonly used: Otter Ck. or Otter Cr.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Otter Creek. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Otter Creek.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Otter Creek is located in Pulaski 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 Pulaski County: Faulkner, Grant, Jefferson, Lonoke, Perry & Saline.
Below are the counties that are near Otter Creek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Otter Creek:
- Pulaski County (The home county of Otter Creek)
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Creek, with the one closest to Otter Creek listed first.
- Mabelvale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Alexander
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Windamere
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Windamere is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windamere
- Wakefield Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Wakefield Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield Village
- Banty ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Banty is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banty
- Landmark
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Landmark is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landmark
- Landmark has also been known as:
- Parkers - Iron Springs
- Secluded Hills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Secluded Hills is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Secluded Hills
- Cammack Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cammack Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cammack Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 712 people
- Ferndale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ferndale is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferndale
- Bingham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bingham is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
- Sweet Home
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sweet Home is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Home
- Little Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- College Station
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Faulkner County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Creek, with the one closest to Otter Creek listed first.
- Mayflower
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lollie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Lollie is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lollie
- Preston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Preston is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston
- Conway
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hamlet
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hamlet is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
- Otto
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Otto is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
- Beryl
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Beryl is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beryl
- Garland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Creek, with the one closest to Otter Creek listed first.
- Lonsdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Fountain Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Fountain Lake is located in Garland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 576 people
- Grant County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Creek, with the one closest to Otter Creek listed first.
- Ico ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Ico is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ico
- Tull
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tull is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tull
- Population from the 2020 Census: 464 people
- Center Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Center Grove is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Grove
- Ebb
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Ebb is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebb
- Prattsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Sheridan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Turin ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Turin is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turin
- Poyen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Poyen is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poyen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Slabtown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Slabtown is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slabtown
- Cherry Grove ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cherry Grove is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
- Dogwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Dogwood is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood
- Hot Spring County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Creek, with the one closest to Otter Creek listed first.
- Butterfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Butterfield is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
- Rockport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rockport is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 710 people
- Magnet Cove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Magnet Cove is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet Cove
- Estimated population in 2014: 5 people
- Perla
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Perla is located in Hot Spring County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perla
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- Malvern
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Creek, with the one closest to Otter Creek listed first.
- Redfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Plum Bayou ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Plum Bayou is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Bayou
- Wright
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wright is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
- Pastoria
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pastoria is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pastoria
- Lonoke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Creek, with the one closest to Otter Creek listed first.
- Cobbs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Cobbs is located in Lonoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbs
- Keo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- England
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Parnell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Parnell is located in Lonoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Creek, with the one closest to Otter Creek listed first.
- Little Italy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Little Italy is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Italy
- Bigelow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fourche
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fourche is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fourche
- Population from the 2020 Census: 62 people
- Dixie ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Dixie is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
- Toad Suck
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Toad Suck is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toad Suck
- Houston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Saline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otter Creek, with the one closest to Otter Creek listed first.
- Shannon Hills
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Shannon Hills is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,087 people
- Bryant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bauxite
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bauxite is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauxite
- Population from the 2020 Census: 555 people
- Salem
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Salem is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Avilla
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Avilla is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilla
- Congo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Congo is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Congo
- East End
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- East End is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East End
- Benton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shaw
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shaw is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
- Kentucky
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Kentucky is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentucky
- Haskell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fairplay ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fairplay is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairplay
- Rubicon
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Rubicon is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rubicon
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Otter Creek, see our County-by-County Page for Otter Creek.
Cemeteries Near Otter Creek ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Otter Creek.
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 Otter Creek - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Otter Creek covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Otter Creek, with the one closest to Otter Creek listed first.
- Douglass Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Forest Hills Memorial Park
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Alexander Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Valley Pine Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pinecrest Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Alexander Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Martin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Halstead Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rose Garden Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Butler Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lewis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (219 more) ...
- Bryant Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- China Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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 Otter Creek in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Otter Creek.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Otter Creek, with the one closest to Otter Creek listed first.
- Collegeville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Collegeville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collegeville
- Alexander
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Mabelvale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Bryant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Altharp ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Altharp is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altharp
- Banty ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Banty is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banty
- Hurricane ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hurricane is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurricane
- Avilla
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Avilla is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilla
- Ivesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ivesville is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivesville
- Tatumville ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Tatumville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tatumville
- Benton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sweet Home
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sweet Home is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Home
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Little Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shaw
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shaw is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
- Wrightsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Wrightsville is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,054 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Otter Creek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Otter Creek.
Newspapers Published in Otter Creek ...
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 239 newspapers that have been published in the area around Otter Creek.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Otter Creek, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Otter Creek.
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 Otter Creek:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Pulaski County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Faulkner County
- Garland County
- Grant County
- Hot Spring County
- Jefferson County
- Lonoke County
- Perry County
- Saline 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> | 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 Otter Creek, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Otter Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |