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 Rio Vista (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 Rio Vista. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Rio Vista is located in White 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 White County: Cleburne, Faulkner, Independence, Jackson, Lonoke, Prairie & Woodruff.
Below are the counties that are near Rio Vista. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rio Vista:
- White County (The home county of Rio Vista)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio Vista, with the one closest to Rio Vista listed first.
- Russell
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bald Knob
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bradford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Bradford is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 736 people
- Judsonia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- West Point
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- West Point is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 176 people
- Bliss ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bliss is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bliss
- Georgetown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Kensett
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Griffithville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Griffithville is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffithville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Higginson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Higginson is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higginson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 743 people
- Searcy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Sunnydale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sunnydale is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnydale
- Cleburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio Vista, with the one closest to Rio Vista listed first.
- Rainbow Island
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rainbow Island is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rainbow Island
- Wilburn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wilburn is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilburn
- Cross County
- Hickory Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hickory Ridge is located in Cross County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 233 people
- Independence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio Vista, with the one closest to Rio Vista listed first.
- Thida
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Thida is located in Independence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thida
- Pleasant Plains
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Plains is located in Independence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Plains
- Population from the 2020 Census: 356 people
- Oil Trough
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Rosie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Rosie is located in Independence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosie
- Floral
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Floral is located in Independence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floral
- Magness
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Magness is located in Independence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magness
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Newark
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Salado
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Salado is located in Independence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salado
- Southside
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Southside is located in Independence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southside
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio Vista, with the one closest to Rio Vista listed first.
- Grand Glaise
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Grand Glaise is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Glaise
- Tupelo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Weldon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Weldon is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Shoffner
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Shoffner is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoffner
- Gourd Neck
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Gourd Neck is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gourd Neck
- Auvergne
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Auvergne is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auvergne
- Beedeville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Beedeville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beedeville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Island Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Island Town is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island Town
- Algoa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Algoa is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algoa
- Newport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Remmel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Remmel is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Remmel
- Jacksonport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Monroe County
- Fargo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fargo is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fargo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
- Prairie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio Vista, with the one closest to Rio Vista listed first.
- Sand Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Sand Hill is located in Prairie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Hill
- Little Dixie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Little Dixie is located in Prairie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Dixie
- Des Arc
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Hickory Plains
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hickory Plains is located in Prairie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Plains
- Woodruff County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio Vista, with the one closest to Rio Vista listed first.
- Augusta
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Gregory
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gregory is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregory
- Riverside
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Riverside is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Patterson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Patterson is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 388 people
- Flynn ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Flynn is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flynn
- Colona
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Colona is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colona
- McCrory
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- McCrory is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCrory
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,496 people
- DeView
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- DeView is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeView
- Howell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Howell is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Morton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Morton is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton
- Cotton Plant
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bemis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bemis is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bemis
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rio Vista, see our County-by-County Page for Rio Vista.
Cemeteries Near Rio Vista ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rio Vista.
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 Rio Vista - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rio Vista covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rio Vista, with the one closest to Rio Vista listed first.
- Smith Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Gilbert Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Carter Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Plant Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Augusta Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Quiett Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bolden Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Shady Grove Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Bald Knob.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #56214 <2>
- Prince Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Harris Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (199 more) ...
- Ashler Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Holly Grove Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Heard Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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 Rio Vista in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rio Vista.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rio Vista, with the one closest to Rio Vista listed first.
- Russell
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bald Knob
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Augusta
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bradford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Bradford is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 736 people
- Judsonia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- West Point
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- West Point is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 176 people
- Clear Water ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Clear Water is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Water
- Kensett
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Gregory
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gregory is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregory
- Bliss ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bliss is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bliss
- Riverside
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Riverside is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Flynn ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Flynn is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flynn
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Grand Glaise
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Grand Glaise is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Glaise
- Beard ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Beard is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beard
- Colona
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Colona is located in Woodruff County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colona
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rio Vista. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rio Vista.
Newspapers Published in Rio Vista ...
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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rio Vista.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rio Vista, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rio Vista.
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 Rio Vista:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to White County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cleburne County
- Cross County
- Independence County
- Jackson County
- Monroe County
- Prairie County
- Woodruff 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 Rio Vista, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Rio Vista) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |