Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Valley Ridge. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Valley Ridge to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Valley Ridge, please Contact Us.
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 Ridge (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 Ridge. 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 Ridge ...
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 Valley Ridge: Valley Rdg. (or less commonly used: Valley Rdge. or Valley Ridg.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Valley Ridge. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Valley Ridge.
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 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Valley Ridge is historic, it would have been located within present day Howard 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 Howard County: Hempstead, Little River, Pike, Polk & Sevier.
Below are the counties that are near Valley Ridge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Valley Ridge:
- Howard County (The home county of Valley Ridge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Galena
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Galena is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galena
- Umpire
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Umpire is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Umpire
- Euclid
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Euclid is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Euclid
- Mineola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mineola is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineola
- Dierks
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Athens
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Center Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Center Point is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Blue Bayou
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Bayou is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Bayou
- Corinth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Corinth is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Nashville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mineral Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Calhoun County
- Unco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Unco is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unco
- Hempstead County
- Tokio
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tokio is located in Hempstead County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tokio
- Little River County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Cerrogordo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cerrogordo is located in Little River County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cerrogordo
- Winthrop
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Alleene
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Alleene is located in Little River County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleene
- Montgomery County
- Cox Spring
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cox Spring is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cox Spring
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Grandfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Grandfield is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandfield
- Newhope
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Newhope is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newhope
- Langley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Star of the West ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Star of the West is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star of the West
- Nathan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Nathan is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nathan
- Daisy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Daisy is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Highland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Highland is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Lodi
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Lodi is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Grannis
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Grannis is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grannis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 566 people
- Wickes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hatton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hatton is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Vandervoort
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Vandervoort is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandervoort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
- Bog Springs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bog Springs is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bog Springs
- Cove
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Hatfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dallas
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Dallas is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Board Camp
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Board Camp is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Board Camp
- Potter Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Potter Junction is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter Junction
- Big Fork
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Big Fork is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Fork
- Potter
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Potter is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter
- Mena
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Sevier County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Gillham
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gillham is located in Sevier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 155 people
- De Queen
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Process City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Process City is located in Sevier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Process City
- Lockesburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Lockesburg is located in Sevier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockesburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 710 people
- Norwoodville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Norwoodville is located in Sevier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwoodville
- Horatio
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Ben Lomond
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- McCurtain County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Eagletown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Watson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Smithville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hochatown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Valley Ridge, see our County-by-County Page for Valley Ridge.
Cemeteries Near Valley Ridge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Valley Ridge.
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 Ridge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Valley Ridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Holly Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Overturf Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cossatot Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Baker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gillham Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Duckett Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Crystal Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mineral Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Davis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Old New Hope Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Galena Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Grannis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (164 more) ...
- Daniel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Valley Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Valley Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<4> to the southwest of Gillham.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #56631 <3>
- W.L. Allen Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
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.
While we didn't find Valley Ridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Valley Ridge.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Antimony ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Antimony is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antimony
- Duckett
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Duckett is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duckett
- Galena
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Galena is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galena
- Lebanon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lebanon is located in Sevier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebanon
- Umpire
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Umpire is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Umpire
- Hartley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hartley is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartley
- Euclid
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Euclid is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Euclid
- New Moon ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- New Moon is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Moon
- Pates ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Pates is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pates
- Chapel Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Chapel Hill is located in Sevier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- Lockesburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Lockesburg is located in Sevier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockesburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 710 people
- Cove
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Norwoodville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Norwoodville is located in Sevier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwoodville
- Muddy Fork
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Muddy Fork is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddy Fork
- Newhope
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Newhope is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newhope
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Valley Ridge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Valley Ridge.
Newspapers Published in Valley Ridge ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Valley Ridge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Valley Ridge, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Valley Ridge.
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 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 Valley Ridge:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Howard County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calhoun County
- Hempstead County
- Little River County
- Montgomery County
- Pike County
- Polk County
- Sevier County
- McCurtain County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Arkansas
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Ridge, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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- Valley Ridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |