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 Saint Matthews (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 Saint Matthews. 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 Saint Matthews ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Saint Matthews: St. Matthews
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Saint Matthews. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Saint Matthews.
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/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 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/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 north 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.
Saint Matthews is located in Columbia 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 Columbia County: Lafayette, Nevada, Ouachita, Union, Claiborne (LA) & Webster (LA).
Below are the counties/parishes that are near Saint Matthews. For each of these counties/parishes, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Saint Matthews:
- Columbia County (The home county of Saint Matthews)
- The following are listed by their distance from Saint Matthews, with the one closest to Saint Matthews listed first.
- College Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- College Hill is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Hill
- Milner ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Milner is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milner
- McNeil
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Waldo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Magnolia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Village is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village
- Calhoun
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Calhoun is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Philadelphia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Philadelphia is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Macedonia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Macedonia is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Horsehead
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Horsehead is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horsehead
- Emerson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Emerson is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
- Taylor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Clark County
- Whelen Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Whelen Springs is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whelen Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
- Hempstead County
- The following are listed by their distance from Saint Matthews, with the one closest to Saint Matthews listed first.
- Patmos
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Patmos is located in Hempstead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patmos
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Centerville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Centerville is located in Hempstead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Shover Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shover Springs is located in Hempstead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shover Springs
- Perrytown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Perrytown is located in Hempstead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrytown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
- Hope
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lafayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Saint Matthews, with the one closest to Saint Matthews listed first.
- Buckner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Buckner is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckner
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Stamps
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- McKamie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- McKamie is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKamie
- Lewisville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Old Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Old Town is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Kress City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Kress City is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kress City
- Nevada County
- The following are listed by their distance from Saint Matthews, with the one closest to Saint Matthews listed first.
- Willisville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Willisville is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willisville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- Rosston
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rosston is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 235 people
- Cale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Cale is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Bodcaw
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bodcaw is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodcaw
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Zama ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Zama is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zama
- Laneburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Laneburg is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laneburg
- Bluff City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Emmet
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Emmet is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmet
- Population from the 2020 Census: 455 people
- Prescott
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ouachita County
- The following are listed by their distance from Saint Matthews, with the one closest to Saint Matthews listed first.
- Stephens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lufra ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lufra is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lufra
- Pace City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Pace City is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pace City
- Liberty
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Liberty is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Bragg City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bragg City is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg City
- Louann
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Louann is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louann
- Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
- Chidester
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Chidester is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chidester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 256 people
- Cullendale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cullendale is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullendale
- Camden
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Reader
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Reader is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reader
- Wyloe ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wyloe is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyloe
- East Camden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- East Camden is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Camden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 809 people
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Saint Matthews, with the one closest to Saint Matthews listed first.
- Mount Holly
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lisbon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lisbon is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Smackover
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Dumas City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Dumas City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas City
- Sandy Land
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Sandy Land is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Land
- Dodge City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dodge City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Norphlet
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Norphlet is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norphlet
- Population from the 2020 Census: 772 people
- Claiborne Parish (LA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Saint Matthews, with the one closest to Saint Matthews listed first.
- Gordon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Gordon is located in Claiborne Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Haynesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Saint Matthews, see our County-by-County Page for Saint Matthews.
Cemeteries Near Saint Matthews ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Saint Matthews.
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 Saint Matthews - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Saint Matthews covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Saint Matthews, with the one closest to Saint Matthews listed first.
- Miner Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Gatlin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Green Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- New Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Tick Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Matthews Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Watts Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Columbia Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Hartsfield Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Hope Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Macedonia Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (218 more) ...
- Free Hope Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Round Oak Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dickson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<2>
While we didn't find Saint Matthews in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Saint Matthews.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Saint Matthews, with the one closest to Saint Matthews listed first.
- College Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- College Hill is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Hill
- Milner ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Milner is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milner
- McNeil
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Glenville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Glenville is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenville
- Laughlin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Laughlin is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laughlin
- Waldo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Delta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Delta is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
- Troy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Troy is located in Ouachita County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Woodlawn ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Woodlawn is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
- Magnolia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Lumber
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lumber is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumber
- Willisville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Willisville is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willisville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Village is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village
- Calhoun
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Calhoun is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Caney ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Caney is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Saint Matthews. See our List of 1890's Communities around Saint Matthews.
Newspapers Published in Saint Matthews ...
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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Saint Matthews.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Saint Matthews, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Saint Matthews.
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 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 Saint Matthews:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Columbia County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clark County
- Hempstead County
- Lafayette County
- Nevada County
- Ouachita County
- Union County
- Claiborne 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> | 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 Saint Matthews, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Saint Matthews) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |