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 Swan Lake (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 Swan Lake. 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 Swan Lake ...
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.
Another variation: Swanlake.
- A typical abbreviation for Swan Lake: Swan Lk.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Swan Lake. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Swan Lake.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and 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 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, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Swan Lake is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Arkansas, Cleveland, Grant, Lincoln, Lonoke & Pulaski.
Below are the counties that are near Swan Lake. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Swan Lake:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Swan Lake)
- The following are listed by their distance from Swan Lake, with the one closest to Swan Lake listed first.
- Richardson
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Richardson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richardson
- Cornerstone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cornerstone is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerstone
- Moscow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Moscow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Tamo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tamo is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tamo
- Reydell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Reydell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reydell
- Madding
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Madding is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madding
- Noble Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Noble Lake is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noble Lake
- Altheimer
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rob Roy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rob Roy is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rob Roy
- Wabbaseka
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wabbaseka is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabbaseka
- Population from the 2020 Census: 213 people
- Pine Bluff
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Pinebergen
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Pinebergen is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinebergen
- Sherrill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sherrill is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherrill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Arkansas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Swan Lake, with the one closest to Swan Lake listed first.
- Bayou Meto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Bayou Meto is located in Arkansas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Meto
- Humphrey
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Gillett
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- De Witt
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Almyra
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Stuttgart
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Tichnor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Parham ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Parham is located in Arkansas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parham
- Cleveland County
- Pansy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pansy is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pansy
- Desha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Swan Lake, with the one closest to Swan Lake listed first.
- Mitchellville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mitchellville is located in Desha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchellville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
- Dumas
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Pickens
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pickens is located in Desha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickens
- Pea Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pea Ridge is located in Desha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Ridge
- Hopedale ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hopedale is located in Desha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopedale
- Drew County
- Winchester
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Winchester is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Swan Lake, with the one closest to Swan Lake listed first.
- Sarassa
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sarassa is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarassa
- Grady
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Varner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Varner is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varner
- Yorktown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Yorktown is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
- Crigler
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Crigler is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crigler
- Meroney
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Meroney is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meroney
- Gould
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gould is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Population from the 2020 Census: 719 people
- South Bend ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- South Bend is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bend
- Star City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Palmyra
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Palmyra is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Tyro
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Tyro is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyro
- Warrenton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Warrenton is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenton
- Cornerville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cornerville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
- Lonoke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Swan Lake, with the one closest to Swan Lake listed first.
- Allport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Allport is located in Lonoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Humnoke
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Coy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Coy is located in Lonoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Seaton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Seaton is located in Lonoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seaton
- England
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Swan Lake, with the one closest to Swan Lake listed first.
- Fairmount
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Fairmount is located in Prairie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Ulm
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ulm is located in Prairie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ulm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Swan Lake, see our County-by-County Page for Swan Lake.
Cemeteries Near Swan Lake ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Swan Lake.
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 Swan Lake - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Swan Lake covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Swan Lake, with the one closest to Swan Lake listed first.
- St. Paul Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Brent Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Round Lake Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Elam Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Walstein Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Nickelson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Wynn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Garrett Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Morning Star Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- New Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Blackman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (220 more) ...
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Langford Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- New Gascony Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Swan Lake had a population of 75 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Swan Lake, with the one closest to Swan Lake listed first.
- Lake Farm
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Lake Farm is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Farm
- English
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- English is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English
- Richardson
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Richardson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richardson
- Sarassa
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sarassa is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarassa
- Cornerstone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cornerstone is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerstone
- New Gascony
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- New Gascony is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Gascony
- Linwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Linwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- Tamo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tamo is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tamo
- Grady
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Madding
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Madding is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madding
- Lake Dick
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Dick is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Dick
- Noble Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Noble Lake is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noble Lake
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Varner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Varner is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varner
- Cummins
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cummins is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cummins
- Bayou Meto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Bayou Meto is located in Arkansas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Meto
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Swan Lake. See our List of 1890's Communities around Swan Lake.
Newspapers Published in Swan Lake ...
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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Swan Lake.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Swan Lake, 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 Swan Lake.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Swan Lake:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Arkansas County
- Cleveland County
- Desha County
- Drew County
- Lincoln County
- Lonoke County
- Prairie 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> | 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 Swan Lake, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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 from Point A (ie- Swan Lake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |