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 Ponders (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 Ponders. 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.
Ponders is located in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County: Craighead, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Randolph & Sharp.
Below are the counties that are near Ponders. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ponders:
- Lawrence County (The home county of Ponders)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Sedgwick
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hoxie
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Ridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Minturn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Minturn is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minturn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- College City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- College City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College City
- Estimated population in 2016: 506 people
- Portia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Alicia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Alicia is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alicia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Black Rock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Powhatan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lynn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Annieville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Annieville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annieville
- Imboden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Saffell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Saffell is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saffell
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Peach Orchard
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Peach Orchard is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peach Orchard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
- Knobel
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Knobel is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knobel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
- Datto
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Datto is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Datto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Craighead County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Bono
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Egypt
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Cash
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cash is located in Craighead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
- Population from the 2020 Census: 359 people
- Philadelphia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Philadelphia is located in Craighead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Jonesboro
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brookland
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Obear ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Obear is located in Craighead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obear
- Lake View
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lake View is located in Craighead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Bay
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bay is located in Craighead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,816 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bay <1>
- Lake City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Red Onion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Red Onion is located in Craighead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Onion
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Light
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Light is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Light
- Walcott
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Walcott is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walcott
- Finch
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Finch is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finch
- Pine Knot
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Pine Knot is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Knot
- Crowley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Crowley is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley
- Delaplaine
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Delaplaine is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaplaine
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Beech Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Beech Grove is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Grove
- Paragould
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove Heights is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,095 people
- Stonewall
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Stonewall is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewall
- Lafe
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lafe is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
- Bard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Bard is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bard
- Independence County
- Cord
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cord is located in Independence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cord
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Swifton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Swifton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swifton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 733 people
- Centerville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Kenyon
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Kenyon is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenyon
- Tuckerman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Grubbs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Grubbs is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grubbs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Elgin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Elgin is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- Airport Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Airport Village is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airport Village
- Campbell Station
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Campbell Station is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Poinsett County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Weiner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Weiner is located in Poinsett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weiner
- Population from the 2020 Census: 662 people
- Greenfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Greenfield is located in Poinsett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Waldenburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Trumann
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- O'Kean
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- O'Kean is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Kean
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Manson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Manson is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manson
- Serene
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Serene is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Serene
- Skaggs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Skaggs is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skaggs
- Pocahontas
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Pocahontas is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,371 people
- Former names for Pocahontas:
- Bettis Bluff
- Betts Bluff
- Pokakhontas
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pocahontas <1>
- Birdell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Birdell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdell
- Eleven
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Eleven is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleven
- Peru
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Peru is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peru
- Biggers
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Biggers is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 342 people
- Brockett
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Brockett is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brockett
- Attica
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Attica is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Water Valley ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Water Valley is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
- Elevenpoint
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Elevenpoint is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elevenpoint
- Dunklin County (MO)
- Red Onion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Red Onion is located in Dunklin County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Onion
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ponders, see our County-by-County Page for Ponders.
Cemeteries Near Ponders ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ponders.
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 Ponders - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ponders covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Manning Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Manning Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Old Military Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Whittaker Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brown Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Arnold Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut Ridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Aldridge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jenkins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Roberts Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ray Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (307 more) ...
- Lawrence Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Markham Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Miller Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
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>
While we didn't find Ponders in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ponders.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Sedgwick
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut Ridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hoxie
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lindsey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Lindsey is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindsey
- Minturn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Minturn is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minturn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Murta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Murta is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murta
- Bono
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Egypt
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Lorado
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lorado is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorado
- Portia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clover Bend
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Clover Bend is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Bend
- Alicia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Alicia is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alicia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Walcott
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Walcott is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walcott
- O'Kean
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- O'Kean is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Kean
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Cash
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cash is located in Craighead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
- Population from the 2020 Census: 359 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ponders. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ponders.
Newspapers Published in Ponders ...
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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ponders.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ponders, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ponders.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Ponders:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Lawrence County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Craighead County
- Greene County
- Independence County
- Jackson County
- Poinsett County
- Randolph County
- Dunklin 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 Ponders, 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- Ponders) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |