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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 Rector (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 Rector. 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 hospitals 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.

Rector is located in Clay 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 Clay County: Greene, Randolph, Butler (MO), Dunklin (MO) & Ripley (MO).

Below are the counties that are near Rector. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rector:

  • Clay County     (The home county of Rector)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rector, with the one closest to Rector listed first.
    • Greenway
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Greenway is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
    • Bell City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Bell City is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell City
    • Piggott
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Nimmons
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Nimmons is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nimmons
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
    • Pollard
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • McDougal
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • McDougal is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDougal
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
    • Saint Francis
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Knobel
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Knobel is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knobel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
    • Corning
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Moark
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Peach Orchard
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Datto
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • 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 Rector, with the one closest to Rector listed first.
    • Red Onion
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Monette
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Lake View
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Lake View is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
    • Black Oak
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Black Oak is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Oak
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Brookland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rector, with the one closest to Rector listed first.
    • Marmaduke
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Lafe
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Lafe is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
    • Bard
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Stonewall
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Oak Grove Heights
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • 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
    • Paragould
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Beech Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Beech Grove is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Grove
    • Crowley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Pine Knot
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Delaplaine
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Delaplaine is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaplaine
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Finch
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Walcott
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Mississippi County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rector, with the one closest to Rector listed first.
    • Arkmo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Rington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Leachville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Stark City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Stark City is located in Mississippi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stark City
    • Manila
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Gosnell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Gosnell is located in Mississippi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gosnell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,066 people
  • Randolph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rector, with the one closest to Rector listed first.
    • Reyno
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Reyno is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reyno
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 391 people
      • Former names for Reyno:
      • Cherokee Bay
      • Esselwood
      • Needmore
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Reyno
      • From Rector to Reyno
    • Biggers
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • O'Kean
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Butler County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rector, with the one closest to Rector listed first.
    • Fagus
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Fagus is located in Butler County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fagus
    • Oglesville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Qulin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Qulin is located in Butler County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Qulin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 459 people
    • Neelyville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Broseley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Harviell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Dunklin County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rector, with the one closest to Rector listed first.
    • Senath
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Kennett
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Arbyrd
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Arbyrd is located in Dunklin County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbyrd
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
    • Cardwell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Caruth
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • White Oak
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Cotton Plant
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sumach
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Holcomb
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Holcomb is located in Dunklin County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holcomb
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 571 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Holcomb <1>
    • Pine City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine City is located in Dunklin County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine City
    • Cockrum
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Arkmo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
  • New Madrid County (MO)
    • Gideon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Gideon is located in New Madrid County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gideon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 952 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gideon <1>
  • Pemiscot County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rector, with the one closest to Rector listed first.
    • Gobler
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Gobler is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gobler
    • Bragg City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Bragg City is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
    • Peach Orchard
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Mid City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Mid City is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
    • Deering
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Deering is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deering
    • Braggadocio
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Braggadocio is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braggadocio
    • Homestown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Homestown is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homestown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
    • Pascola
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Pascola is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pascola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
    • Steele
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Steele is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steele
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,853 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Steele <1>
    • North Wardell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • North Wardell is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wardell
    • Wardell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Wardell is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wardell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 354 people
    • Holland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Holland is located in Pemiscot County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 193 people
  • Ripley County (MO)
    • Naylor
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Naylor is located in Ripley County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naylor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people

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

Cemeteries Near Rector ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rector.

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

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

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

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Rector had a population of 490 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Rector had a population of 1,703 people.

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

  • Greenway
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenway is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenway
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
  • Marmaduke
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Boydsville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Boydsville is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boydsville
  • Crockett
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Crockett is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crockett
  • Piggott
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Senath
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Pollard
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Halliday
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Halliday is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halliday
  • Gainesville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Gainesville is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
  • Bard
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Kennett
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Nesbit
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Nesbit is located in Dunklin County (MO)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nesbit
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Rector ...

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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rector.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Rector. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Rector and those printed in the larger area surrounding Rector.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4> of Rector.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Rector:

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