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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 Shelbyville (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 Shelbyville. 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 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.

Shelbyville is located in Sharp 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 Sharp County: Fulton, Independence, Izard, Lawrence, Randolph & Oregon (MO).

Below are the counties that are near Shelbyville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shelbyville:

  • Sharp County     (The home county of Shelbyville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shelbyville, with the one closest to Shelbyville listed first.
    • Grange
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Grange is located in Sharp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grange
    • Poughkeepsie
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Poughkeepsie is located in Sharp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poughkeepsie
    • Maxville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Maxville is located in Sharp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxville
    • Evening Shade
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Sidney
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Sidney is located in Sharp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidney
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
    • Williford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Williford is located in Sharp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
    • Ash Flat
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Highland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Highland is located in Sharp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,105 people
    • Cherokee Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Hardy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
  • Cleburne County
    • Almond
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Almond is located in Cleburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almond
  • Craighead County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shelbyville, with the one closest to Shelbyville listed first.
    • Egypt
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Egypt is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Egypt <1>
    • Cash
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Cash is located in Craighead County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 359 people
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shelbyville, with the one closest to Shelbyville listed first.
    • Baker Ford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Baker Ford is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Ford
    • Glencoe
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Glencoe is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glencoe
    • Saddle
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Saddle is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saddle
  • Independence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shelbyville, with the one closest to Shelbyville listed first.
    • Cave City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Charlotte
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Charlotte is located in Independence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlotte
    • Cord
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Cord is located in Independence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cord
    • Sandtown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Sandtown is located in Independence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandtown
    • Pfeiffer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Pfeiffer is located in Independence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pfeiffer
    • Sulphur Rock
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Sulphur Rock is located in Independence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Rock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
    • Moorefield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Moorefield is located in Independence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moorefield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Newark
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Newark is located in Independence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,193 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Newark <1>
    • Magness
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Magness is located in Independence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magness
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
    • Batesville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Cushman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Cushman is located in Independence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 457 people
    • Denieville ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Denieville is located in Independence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denieville
  • Izard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shelbyville, with the one closest to Shelbyville listed first.
    • Mount Pleasant
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Bone Town
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Bone Town is located in Izard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bone Town
    • Sage
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Sage is located in Izard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sage
    • Franklin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • LaCrosse
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • LaCrosse is located in Izard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaCrosse
    • Horseshoe Bend
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Violet Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Violet Hill is located in Izard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Violet Hill
    • Lunenburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Lunenburg is located in Izard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lunenburg
    • Melbourne
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Wiseman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Wiseman is located in Izard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiseman
    • Guion
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Guion is located in Izard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guion
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shelbyville, with the one closest to Shelbyville listed first.
    • Centerville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Centerville is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
    • Elgin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Elgin is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
    • Kenyon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Kenyon is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenyon
    • Swifton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Swifton is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swifton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 733 people
    • Tuckerman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Campbell Station
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Campbell Station is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Station
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
    • Diaz
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Diaz is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diaz
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,208 people
    • Jacksonport
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Airport Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Airport Village is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airport Village
    • Newport
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Island Town
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Island Town is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island Town
    • Grubbs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Grubbs is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grubbs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
  • Lawrence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shelbyville, with the one closest to Shelbyville listed first.
    • Strawberry
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Strawberry is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strawberry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
    • Saffell
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Saffell is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saffell
    • Lynn
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Lynn is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lynn <1>
    • Smithville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Smithville is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
    • Annieville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Annieville is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annieville
    • Powhatan
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Alicia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Alicia is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alicia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
    • Black Rock
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Minturn
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Minturn is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minturn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
    • Imboden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Portia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Ravenden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Randolph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shelbyville, with the one closest to Shelbyville listed first.
    • Kingsville ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Kingsville is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsville
    • Eleven
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Eleven is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleven
    • Ravenden Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Ravenden Springs is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenden Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
      • Former names for Ravenden Springs:
      • Dream Town
      • Jane's Store
    • Birdell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Birdell is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdell
    • Lima
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Lima is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lima
    • Water Valley ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Water Valley is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
    • Manson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Manson is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manson
    • Elevenpoint
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Elevenpoint is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elevenpoint
  • Stone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shelbyville, with the one closest to Shelbyville listed first.
    • Marcella
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Marcella is located in Stone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcella
    • Pleasant Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Pleasant Grove is located in Stone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shelbyville, see our County-by-County Page for Shelbyville.

Cemeteries Near Shelbyville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shelbyville.

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 Shelbyville - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shelbyville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shelbyville, with the one closest to Shelbyville listed first.

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 Shelbyville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shelbyville.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Shelbyville, with the one closest to Shelbyville listed first.

  • Strawberry
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Strawberry is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strawberry
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
  • Grange
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Grange is located in Sharp County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grange
  • Hazel Grove
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Hazel Grove is located in Independence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Grove
  • Reed ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Reed is located in Sharp County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed
  • Lynn
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Lynn is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lynn <1>
  • Hickory Valley
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Hickory Valley is located in Independence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Valley
  • Poughkeepsie
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Poughkeepsie is located in Sharp County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poughkeepsie
  • Smithville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Smithville is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
  • Cord
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Cord is located in Independence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cord
  • Maxville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Maxville is located in Sharp County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxville
  • Dota
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Dota is located in Independence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dota
  • Sandtown
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Sandtown is located in Independence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandtown
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Elgin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Elgin is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
    • Evening Shade
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Sidney
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Sidney is located in Sharp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidney
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shelbyville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shelbyville.

Newspapers Published in Shelbyville ...

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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shelbyville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shelbyville, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shelbyville.

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 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 Shelbyville:

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 Shelbyville, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Shelbyville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.