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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 Pickens (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 Pickens. 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 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.

Pickens 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 Pickens. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Pickens:

  • Desha County     (The home county of Pickens)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pickens, with the one closest to Pickens listed first.
    • Dumas
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Hopedale ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Hopedale is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopedale
    • Mitchellville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Mitchellville is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchellville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
    • Pea Ridge
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Pea Ridge is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Ridge
    • Reed
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Reed is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
    • Kelso
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Kelso is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
    • Watson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • McArthur
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • McArthur is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McArthur
    • Rohwer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • McGehee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Arkansas City
      (22 miles [35.4 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
    • Napoleon ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Napoleon is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoleon
    • Snow Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Snow Lake is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Lake
  • Arkansas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pickens, with the one closest to Pickens listed first.
    • Gillett
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Tichnor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Bayou Meto
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Bayou Meto is located in Arkansas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Meto
  • Chicot County
    • Dermott
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
  • Cleveland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pickens, with the one closest to Pickens listed first.
    • Annover ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Annover is located in Cleveland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annover
    • Pansy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Pansy is located in Cleveland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pansy
    • Rye
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Rye is located in Cleveland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rye
  • Drew County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pickens, with the one closest to Pickens listed first.
    • Winchester
      (4 miles [6.4 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
      (9 miles [14.5 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
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Selma is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
    • Collins
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Collins is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
    • Rose Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Rose Hill is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
    • Monticello
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Barkada
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Barkada is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barkada
    • Wilmar
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Wilmar is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
    • Jerome
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Jerome is located in Drew County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pickens, with the one closest to Pickens listed first.
    • Reydell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Reydell is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reydell
    • Tamo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Tamo is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tamo
    • Moscow
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Moscow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
    • Richardson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Richardson is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richardson
    • Cornerstone
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Cornerstone is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerstone
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pickens, with the one closest to Pickens listed first.
    • Gould
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Gould is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 719 people
    • Warrenton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Warrenton is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenton
    • South Bend ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • South Bend is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bend
    • Tyro
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Tyro is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyro
    • Varner
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Varner is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varner
    • Meroney
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Meroney is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meroney
    • Crigler
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Crigler is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crigler
    • Grady
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Sarassa
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Sarassa is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarassa
    • Star City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Yorktown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Yorktown is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
    • Cornerville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Cornerville is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
    • Palmyra
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Palmyra is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
  • Bolivar County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pickens, with the one closest to Pickens listed first.
    • Eutaw
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Eutaw is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eutaw
    • Rosedale
      (26 miles [41.8 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>
    • Mound Landing
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Mound Landing is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Landing
    • Wright
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Wright is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Beulah
      (29 miles [46.7 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
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Christmas is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christmas
    • Waxhaw
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Waxhaw is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waxhaw
    • 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
    • Dahomy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Dahomy is located in Bolivar County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahomy
    • 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>

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

Cemeteries Near Pickens ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pickens.

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

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

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

  • Walnut Lake Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Curtis Hall Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Free Gift Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Newton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Banks Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Dixon Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Scott Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Jefferson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Cypress Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Hopkins Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (199 more) ...
    • Bogue Pilgrim Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Rolling Water Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Leach Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)

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

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

  • Dumas
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Hopedale ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Hopedale is located in Desha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopedale
  • Winchester
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Winchester is located in Drew County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
  • Reedville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Reedville is located in Desha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedville
  • Tillar
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Tillar is located in Drew County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillar
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
  • Florence
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Florence is located in Drew County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
  • Medford ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Medford is located in Desha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medford
  • Pendleton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Pendleton is located in Desha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendleton
  • Warrenton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Warrenton is located in Lincoln County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenton
  • Selma
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Selma is located in Drew County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
  • Douglas
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Douglas is located in Lincoln County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
  • Watson
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Red Fork
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Red Fork is located in Desha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Fork
    • South Bend ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • South Bend is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bend
    • Tyro
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Tyro is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyro

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

Newspapers Published in Pickens ...

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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pickens.

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

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 either 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 Pickens:

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