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 Rocky Ford (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 Rocky Ford. 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 Rocky Ford ...
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 Rocky Ford: Rocky Frd.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Rocky Ford. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Rocky Ford.
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 hospitals and 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 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.
Rocky Ford is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Newton & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Rocky Ford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rocky Ford:
- Madison County (The home county of Rocky Ford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Huntsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hindsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Whitener
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Whitener is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitener
- Marble
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Marble is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble
- Georgetown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Wesley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wesley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
- Japton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Japton is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Japton
- Kingston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Witter
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Witter is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witter
- Thompson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Thompson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
- Crosses
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Crosses is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosses
- Delaney
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Delaney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaney
- Boston
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Boston is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- War Eagle
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- War Eagle is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for War Eagle
- Lost Bridge Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lost Bridge Village is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Bridge Village
- Silver Springs ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Silver Springs is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Springs
- Prairie Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie Creek is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Creek
- Puckett ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Puckett is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Bethel Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Bethel Heights is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,970 people
- Lowell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Clantonville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Clantonville is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clantonville
- Garfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Rogers
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Avoca
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Avoca is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 522 people
- Brightwater
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Brightwater is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brightwater
- Gateway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Alpena
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Batavia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Batavia is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batavia
- Shaver ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shaver is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaver
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Winona Springs ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Winona Springs is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winona Springs
- Metalton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Metalton is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metalton
- Dryfork
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Dryfork is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dryfork
- Rudd
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Rudd is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudd
- Mundell ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mundell is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mundell
- Eureka Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Berryville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Osage
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Osage is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
- Gaskins ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Gaskins is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskins
- Beaver
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Green Forest
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- New Town ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- New Town is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Urbanette
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Urbanette is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urbanette
- Conway County
- Grandview
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Grandview is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Boxley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Boxley is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boxley
- Ponca
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Compton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Mossville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mossville is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mossville
- Murray
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Murray is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Spring Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Spring Valley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Mayfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Mayfield is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- War Eagle Cove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- War Eagle Cove is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for War Eagle Cove
- Blue Springs Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Blue Springs Village is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Springs Village
- Goshen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Sonora
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Sonora is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonora
- Elkins
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harris
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Harris is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Durham
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Durham is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
- Springdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Sulphur City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sulphur City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur City
- Johnson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Johnson is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,771 people
- Fayetteville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Barry County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Chain-O-Lakes
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Chain-O-Lakes is located in Barry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chain-O-Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Golden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Eagle Rock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Seligman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Seligman is located in Barry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seligman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 835 people
- Arrow Point
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Arrow Point is located in Barry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrow Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
- Emerald Beach
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Emerald Beach is located in Barry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Beach
- Population from the 2020 Census: 244 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rocky Ford, see our County-by-County Page for Rocky Ford.
Cemeteries Near Rocky Ford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rocky Ford.
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 Rocky Ford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rocky Ford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Cannady Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Fritts Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Marshall Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Scissom Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Martin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bohannan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Alabam Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Farmer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Clifty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Carlock Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Colbaugh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hawkins Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (294 more) ...
- Shorty Burkes Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wilks - Roberts Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Worley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Rocky Ford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rocky Ford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Forum
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Forum is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forum
- Hindsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Huntsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Clifty
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Clifty is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifty
- Whitener
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Whitener is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitener
- Marble
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Marble is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble
- Rockhouse
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rockhouse is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockhouse
- Spring Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Spring Valley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Drakes Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Drakes Creek is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drakes Creek
- Aurora
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Aurora is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Wesley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wesley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
- Winona Springs ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Winona Springs is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winona Springs
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Goshen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Mundell ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mundell is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mundell
- Kingston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rocky Ford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rocky Ford.
Newspapers Published in Rocky Ford ...
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 Rocky Ford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rocky Ford, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rocky Ford.
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 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 Rocky Ford:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Madison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Boone County
- Carroll County
- Conway County
- Newton County
- Washington County
- Barry 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> | 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- Rocky Ford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Rocky Ford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |