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 Roark (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 Roark. 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/Parishes ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties/parishes.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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/parishes 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/parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Roark is located in Ashley 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 Ashley County: Bradley, Chicot, Drew, Union, Morehouse (LA) & Union (LA).
Below are the counties/parishes that are near Roark. For each of these counties/parishes, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Roark:
- Ashley County (The home county of Roark)
- The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
- Fountain Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Fountain Hill is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
- Hamburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- North Crossett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- North Crossett is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Crossett
- Crossett
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- West Crossett
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- West Crossett is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Crossett
- Montrose
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Montrose is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 298 people
- Portland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Elon ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Elon is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elon
- Parkdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Meridian
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Meridian is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- Wilmot
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wilmot is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 483 people
- Bradley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
- Long View Ferry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Long View Ferry is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long View Ferry
- Johnsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Johnsville is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsville
- Sumpter
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sumpter is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumpter
- Blanchton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Blanchton is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchton
- Sturgis ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sturgis is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgis
- Ingalls
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ingalls is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingalls
- Hermitage
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Warren
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Farmville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Farmville is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmville
- Gravelridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Gravelridge is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravelridge
- Lanark
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lanark is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanark
- Jersey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Banks
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Banks is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banks
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Chicot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
- Dermott
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cleveland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
- Rye
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Rye is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rye
- Annover ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Annover is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annover
- Orlando
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Orlando is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Desha County
- McGehee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Drew County
- The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
- Lacey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lacey is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Monticello
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Collins
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Collins is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Wilmar
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Wilmar is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmar
- Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
- Jerome
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Jerome is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
- Barkada
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Barkada is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barkada
- Rose Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Rose Hill is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Selma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Selma is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
- Felsenthal
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Felsenthal is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felsenthal
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- Bolding
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bolding is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolding
- Huttig
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Huttig is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huttig
- Population from the 2020 Census: 526 people
- Morehouse Parish (LA)
- Jones
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Roark, see our County-by-County Page for Roark.
Cemeteries Near Roark ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Roark.
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 Roark - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Roark covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
- Norris Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Flat Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Kirkpatrick Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Courtney Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gray Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Judson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Prairie Grove Baptist Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Deal Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Prairie Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Egypy Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (185 more) ...
- Lacey Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Promise Land Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Central Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
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 Roark in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Roark.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Roark, with the one closest to Roark listed first.
- Fountain Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Fountain Hill is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
- Scipio
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Scipio is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scipio
- Lacey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lacey is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Berea
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Berea is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berea
- Milo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Milo is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milo
- Hamburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Johnsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Johnsville is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsville
- Snyder
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Snyder is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snyder
- Trafalgar
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Trafalgar is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trafalgar
- Paradise ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Paradise is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
- Sumpter
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sumpter is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumpter
- Blanchton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Blanchton is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchton
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Simpson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Simpson is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Collins
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Collins is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Monticello
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Roark. See our List of 1890's Communities around Roark.
Newspapers Published in Roark ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Roark.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Roark, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Roark.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Roark:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Ashley County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bradley County
- Chicot County
- Cleveland County
- Desha County
- Drew County
- Union County
- Morehouse Parish
- 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 Roark, 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 from Point A (ie- Roark) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |