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 Salem (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 Salem. 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 doctors and 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.
Salem is located in Fulton County and is the County Seat.
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 Fulton County: Baxter, Izard, Sharp, Howell (MO), Oregon (MO) & Ozark (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Salem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Salem:
- Fulton County (The home county of Salem)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Camp
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Camp is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp
- Moko
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Moko is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moko
- Sturkie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sturkie is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturkie
- Glencoe
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Glencoe is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glencoe
- Cornertown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cornertown is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornertown
- Viola
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Saddle
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Saddle is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saddle
- Bexar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Baker Ford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Baker Ford is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Ford
- Elizabeth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Gepp
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Gepp is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gepp
- Ott
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ott is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ott
- Mammoth Spring
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Baxter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Rodney
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rodney is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
- Hand ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hand is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hand
- Jordan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Henderson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Wake ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Wake is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wake
- Custer ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Custer is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer
- Gamaliel
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Briarcliff
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Briarcliff is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briarcliff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 250 people
- Salesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Culp
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Culp is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culp
- Norfork
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Norfork Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Norfork Village is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norfork Village
- Clarkridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Clarkridge is located in Baxter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkridge
- Izard County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Wiseman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Wiseman is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiseman
- Horseshoe Bend
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Oxford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oxford is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
- Franklin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Violet Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Violet Hill is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Violet Hill
- Brockwell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Brockwell is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brockwell
- Wideman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wideman is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wideman
- Newburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Newburg is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Dolph
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Dolph is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolph
- LaCrosse
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- LaCrosse is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaCrosse
- Iuka
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Iuka is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iuka
- Pineville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bone Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Bone Town is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bone Town
- Sharp County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Cherokee Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Ash Flat
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Highland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Highland is located in Sharp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,105 people
- Hardy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Evening Shade
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Wirth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wirth is located in Sharp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wirth
- Sidney
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Sidney is located in Sharp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidney
- Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
- Williford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Williford is located in Sharp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Poughkeepsie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Poughkeepsie is located in Sharp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poughkeepsie
- Maxville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Maxville is located in Sharp County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxville
- Howell County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Cornertown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cornertown is located in Howell County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornertown
- Lanton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lanton is located in Howell County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanton
- Lebo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lebo is located in Howell County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebo
- Moody
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Moody is located in Howell County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moody
- Ott
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ott is located in Howell County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ott
- Cottbus
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Cottbus is located in Howell County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottbus
- South Fork
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- South Fork is located in Howell County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Fork
- Brandsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Brandsville is located in Howell County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
- Chapin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Chapin is located in Howell County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
- Caulfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- West Plains
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Pottersville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pottersville is located in Howell County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottersville
- Oregon County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Green Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Green Town is located in Oregon County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Town
- Koshkonong
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Koshkonong is located in Oregon County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koshkonong
- Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
- Old Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Old Town is located in Oregon County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Thayer
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Jeff
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Jeff is located in Oregon County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeff
- Corona
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Corona is located in Oregon County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corona
- Couch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ozark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Bakersfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bakersfield is located in Ozark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Elijah
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Elijah is located in Ozark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elijah
- Udall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Udall is located in Ozark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Udall
- Tecumseh
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Salem, see our County-by-County Page for Salem.
Cemeteries Near Salem ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Salem.
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 Salem - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Salem covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Hunter Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Gum Spring Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Harmony Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Watkins Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Talley Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rhoads Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Viola Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Viola Cemetery is located outside and to the east of Viola.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #56652 <2>
- Liberty Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Cannon Graveyard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Wiseman Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Humphries Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Continue List (237 more) ...
- Kerby Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Barker Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Koellings Graveyard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Salem had a population of 156 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Salem had a population of 1,655 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Camp
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Camp is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp
- Byron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Byron is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byron
- Union
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Union is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Viola
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Lanton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lanton is located in Howell County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanton
- Mitchell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Mitchell is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Bexar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oxford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oxford is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
- Franklin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wild Cherry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wild Cherry is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wild Cherry
- Moody
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Moody is located in Howell County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moody
- Elizabeth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Violet Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Violet Hill is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Violet Hill
- Ash Flat
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Wideman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wideman is located in Izard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wideman
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Salem. See our List of 1890's Communities around Salem.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Salem ...
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 75 newspapers that have been published in the area around Salem.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Salem. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Salem and those printed in the larger area surrounding Salem.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4> of Salem.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Salem:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Fulton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Baxter County
- Izard County
- Sharp County
- Howell County
- Oregon County
- Ozark 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 Salem, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Salem) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |