Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Racket Ridge. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Racket Ridge to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Racket Ridge, please Contact Us.
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 Racket Ridge (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 Racket Ridge. 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 Racket Ridge ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Racket Ridge: Racket Rdg. (or less commonly used: Racket Rdge. or Racket Ridg.)
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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Racket Ridge is historic, it would have been located within present day Van Buren 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 Van Buren County: Cleburne, Conway, Faulkner, Searcy & Stone.
Below are the counties that are near Racket Ridge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Racket Ridge:
- Van Buren County (The home county of Racket Ridge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Racket Ridge, with the one closest to Racket Ridge listed first.
- Scotland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rex
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Rex is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rex
- Alread
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Alread is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alread
- Crabtree
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Crabtree is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabtree
- Copeland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Copeland is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copeland
- Formosa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Formosa is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Formosa
- Clinton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Choctaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Choctaw is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw
- Green Tree
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Green Tree is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Tree
- Bee Branch
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bee Branch is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Branch
- Dennard
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Morganton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Morganton is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morganton
- Cleburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Racket Ridge, with the one closest to Racket Ridge listed first.
- Higden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Edgemont
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Greers Ferry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Quitman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Shiloh ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Shiloh is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Miller ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Miller is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Pearson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Pearson is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Conway County
- The following are listed by their distance from Racket Ridge, with the one closest to Racket Ridge listed first.
- Cleveland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Austin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Center Ridge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Jerusalem
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Middleton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Middleton is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
- Old Hickory
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Old Hickory is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Hickory
- Springfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hattieville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hattieville is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hattieville
- Solgohachia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Solgohachia is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solgohachia
- Plumerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Menifee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Morrilton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Faulkner County
- The following are listed by their distance from Racket Ridge, with the one closest to Racket Ridge listed first.
- Twin Groves
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Twin Groves is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Groves
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Guy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Guy is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 792 people
- Greenbrier
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wooster
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Enders
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Enders is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enders
- Centerville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville is located in Faulkner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Pope County
- The following are listed by their distance from Racket Ridge, with the one closest to Racket Ridge listed first.
- Tilly
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tilly is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilly
- Appleton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Appleton is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Hector
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Caglesville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Caglesville is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caglesville
- Oak Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Laurel ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Laurel is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Economy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Economy is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Economy
- Moreland
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Moreland is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
- Scottsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Scottsville is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Atkins
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Center Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Center Valley is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Valley
- Dover
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Searcy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Racket Ridge, with the one closest to Racket Ridge listed first.
- Watts
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Watts is located in Searcy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watts
- Witt's Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Witt's Springs is located in Searcy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witt's Springs
- Leslie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Marshall
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Baker
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Baker is located in Searcy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Blanco
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Blanco is located in Searcy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanco
- Lone Pine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lone Pine is located in Searcy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Pine
- Gilbert
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Stone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Racket Ridge, with the one closest to Racket Ridge listed first.
- Fox
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fox is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox
- Alco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Alco is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alco
- Timbo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Racket Ridge, see our County-by-County Page for Racket Ridge.
Cemeteries Near Racket Ridge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Racket Ridge.
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 Racket Ridge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Racket Ridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Racket Ridge, with the one closest to Racket Ridge listed first.
- Gardner Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Burke Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Foster Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Low Gap Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Crowell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Old Liberty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lowder Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- McKay Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Reid Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Woolverton Mtn. Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bradley Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (253 more) ...
- Evans Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Rocky Valley Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Halbrooks Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
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.
While we didn't find Racket Ridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Racket Ridge.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Racket Ridge, with the one closest to Racket Ridge listed first.
- Edge ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Edge is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edge
- Scotland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Latham
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Latham is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latham
- Liberty Springs ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty Springs is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Springs
- Claude
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Claude is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claude
- Alread
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Alread is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alread
- Copeland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Copeland is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copeland
- Cleveland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Clinton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Choctaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Choctaw is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw
- Lick Mountain
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Lick Mountain is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Mountain
- Northwood ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Northwood is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwood
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Jerusalem
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Appleton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Appleton is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Bee Branch
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bee Branch is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Branch
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Racket Ridge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Racket Ridge.
Newspapers Published in Racket Ridge ...
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 9 newspapers that have been published in the area around Racket Ridge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Racket Ridge, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Racket Ridge.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Racket Ridge:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Van Buren County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cleburne County
- Conway County
- Faulkner County
- Pope County
- Searcy County
- Stone County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Arkansas
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Racket Ridge, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Racket Ridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |