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 Valley Junction (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 Valley Junction. 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 Valley Junction ...
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 Valley Junction: Valley Jct. (or less commonly used: Valley Jctn.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Valley Junction. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Valley Junction.
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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Valley Junction is located in Drew 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 Drew County: Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Desha & Lincoln.
Below are the counties that are near Valley Junction. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Valley Junction:
- Drew County (The home county of Valley Junction)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Lacey
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Lacey is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Monticello
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Collins
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Collins is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Wilmar
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wilmar is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmar
- Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
- Rose Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Rose Hill is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Barkada
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Barkada is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barkada
- Jerome
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Jerome is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
- Selma
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Selma is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Tillar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Tillar is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillar
- Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
- Winchester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Winchester is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Ashley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Fountain Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fountain Hill is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
- Hamburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Montrose
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Montrose is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 298 people
- Portland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- North Crossett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- North Crossett is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Crossett
- West Crossett
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- West Crossett is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Crossett
- Crossett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Parkdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elon ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Elon is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elon
- Wilmot
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wilmot is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 483 people
- Meridian
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Meridian is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- Bradley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Long View Ferry
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Long View Ferry is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long View Ferry
- Johnsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Johnsville is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsville
- Sumpter
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Sumpter is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumpter
- Warren
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ingalls
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Ingalls is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingalls
- Blanchton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Blanchton is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchton
- Sturgis ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sturgis is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgis
- Hermitage
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Farmville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Farmville is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmville
- Gravelridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Gravelridge is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravelridge
- Lanark
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Lanark is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanark
- Banks
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Banks is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banks
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Chicot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Dermott
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lake Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cleveland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Rye
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Rye is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rye
- Annover ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Annover is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annover
- Orlando
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Orlando is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Pansy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pansy is located in Cleveland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pansy
- Desha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- McGehee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Reed
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Reed is located in Desha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed
- Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
- Hopedale ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hopedale is located in Desha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopedale
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Tyro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Tyro is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyro
- Cornerville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cornerville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
- Warrenton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Warrenton is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenton
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Valley Junction, see our County-by-County Page for Valley Junction.
Cemeteries Near Valley Junction ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Valley Junction.
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 Valley Junction - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Valley Junction covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Deal Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Prairie Grove Baptist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lone Sassafras Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lacey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Gray Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Beulah Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Courtney Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Kirkpatrick Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Flat Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Norris Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Judkins Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cotham Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (209 more) ...
- Baker Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Prairie Chapel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Moore Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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>
While we didn't find Valley Junction in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Valley Junction.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Scipio
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Scipio is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scipio
- Lacey
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Lacey is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Paradise ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Paradise is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
- Fountain Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fountain Hill is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
- Berea
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Berea is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berea
- Monticello
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Johnsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Johnsville is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsville
- Milo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Milo is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milo
- Trafalgar
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Trafalgar is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trafalgar
- Snyder
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Snyder is located in Ashley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snyder
- Collins
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Collins is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Wilmar
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wilmar is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmar
- Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Hamburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Rose Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Rose Hill is located in Drew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Sumpter
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Sumpter is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumpter
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Valley Junction. See our List of 1890's Communities around Valley Junction.
Newspapers Published in Valley Junction ...
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 Valley Junction.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Valley Junction, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Valley Junction.
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 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 Valley Junction:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Drew County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Ashley County
- Bradley County
- Chicot County
- Cleveland County
- Desha County
- Lincoln 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 Valley Junction, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Valley Junction) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |