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 Riverdale (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 Riverdale. 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.
Riverdale is located in Sebastian 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 Sebastian County: Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Scott, Le Flore (OK) & Sequoyah (OK).
Below are the counties that are near Riverdale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Riverdale:
- Sebastian County (The home county of Riverdale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Ursula
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Ursula is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursula
- Lavaca
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bloomer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bloomer is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomer
- Central City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Central City is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 497 people
- Barling
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Smith
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Greenwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Greenwood is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,396 people
- Buell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Buell is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buell
- Jenny Lind
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jenny Lind is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenny Lind
- Bonanza
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bonanza is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonanza
- Population from the 2020 Census: 560 people
- Hackett
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Huntington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Huntington is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 615 people
- Mansfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Dyer
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- New Town
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- New Town is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Mulberry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Kibler
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kibler is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,028 people
- Alma
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Concord
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Concord is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Wright Town
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Wright Town is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright Town
- Rudy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rudy is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Mountainburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Van Buren
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Locke
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Locke is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locke
- Chester
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Cedarville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Dahoma ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dahoma is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahoma
- Cecil
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cecil is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
- Charleston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Donald ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Donald is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Branch
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cravens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cravens is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cravens
- Leon ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Leon is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
- Etna
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Etna is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Webb City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Webb City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb City
- Ozark
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Felkner Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Felkner Town is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felkner Town
- White Oak
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- White Oak is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Watalula
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Watalula is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watalula
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Coal Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Smeadley ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Smeadley is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smeadley
- Hartman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hartman is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 552 people
- Linville ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Linville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Batson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Batson is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batson
- Logan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Ratcliff
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Caulksville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Caulksville is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caulksville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Carbon City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Carbon City is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon City
- Booneville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Paris
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Carolan
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Carolan is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolan
- Lucas
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lucas is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Magazine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Magazine is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magazine
- Population from the 2020 Census: 824 people
- Cotton Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cotton Town is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Town
- Subiaco
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Golden City ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Golden City is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden City
- Blue Mountain
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Mountain is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Corley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Corley is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Winslow
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Brentwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Brentwood is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brentwood
- Hazel Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hazel Valley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Valley
- Strickler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Strickler is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickler
- Le Flore County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Arkoma
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Braden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Braden is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braden
- Pocola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rock Island
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rock Island is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Island
- Population from the 2020 Census: 648 people
- Fort Coffee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Fort Coffee is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Coffee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
- Skullyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Skullyville is located in Le Flore County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skullyville
- Sequoyah County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Moffett
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Roland
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Short
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Short is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
- Remy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Remy is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Remy
- Belfonte
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Belfonte is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfonte
- Long
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Long is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long
- Muldrow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Riverdale, see our County-by-County Page for Riverdale.
Cemeteries Near Riverdale ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riverdale.
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 Riverdale - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Riverdale covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Island Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Arbuckle Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Tate Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Carruth Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Killings Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hepseby Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hickory Ridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Nelson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Harris Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Twelve Corner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Beal Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Real Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (350 more) ...
- Dyer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Simmons Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Woods Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 Riverdale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Riverdale.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Island
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Island is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island
- Beverly
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Beverly is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Vesta
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Vesta is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vesta
- Dyer
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lavaca
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dahoma ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dahoma is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahoma
- Alma
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Haroldton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Haroldton is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haroldton
- Bloomer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bloomer is located in Sebastian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomer
- Charleston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sub Rosa ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sub Rosa is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sub Rosa
- Cecil
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cecil is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Catcher
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Catcher is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catcher
- Graphic ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Graphic is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graphic
- Donald ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Donald is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Riverdale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Riverdale.
Newspapers Published in Riverdale ...
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 104 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riverdale.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riverdale, 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 Riverdale.
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 Riverdale:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Sebastian County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Crawford County
- Franklin County
- Johnson County
- Logan County
- Washington County
- Le Flore County
- Sequoyah 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 Riverdale, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Riverdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |