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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 Vesta (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 Vesta. 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 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.

Vesta is located in Franklin 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 Franklin County: Crawford, Johnson, Logan, Madison & Sebastian.

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

  • Franklin County     (The home county of Vesta)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vesta, with the one closest to Vesta listed first.
    • Dahoma ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Dahoma is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahoma
    • Charleston
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Donald ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Donald is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
    • Cecil
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Cecil is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
    • Branch
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Leon ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Leon is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
    • Etna
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Etna is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
    • Cravens
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Cravens is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cravens
    • Webb City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Webb City is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb City
    • Ozark
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ozark is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ozark
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,626 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ozark <1>
    • Felkner Town
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Felkner Town is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felkner Town
    • White Oak
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • White Oak is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Altus
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vesta, with the one closest to Vesta listed first.
    • Mulberry
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Dyer
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Dyer is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 893 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dyer <1>
    • New Town
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • New Town is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
    • Kibler
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Kibler is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibler
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,028 people
    • Alma
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Alma is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,887 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alma <1>
    • Concord
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Concord is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Wright Town
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Wright Town is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright Town
    • Rudy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Rudy is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
    • Mountainburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Van Buren
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Locke
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Locke is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locke
    • Chester
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Cedarville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vesta, with the one closest to Vesta listed first.
    • Coal Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Hartman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Hartman is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 552 people
    • Smeadley ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Smeadley is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smeadley
    • Linville ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Linville is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
    • Batson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Batson is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batson
    • Union City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Union City is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
    • Harmony
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Harmony is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
    • Spadra
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Spadra is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spadra
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vesta, with the one closest to Vesta listed first.
    • Ratcliff
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Caulksville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Caulksville is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caulksville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
    • Carbon City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Carbon City is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon City
    • Booneville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Paris
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Carolan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Carolan is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolan
    • Magazine
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Magazine is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magazine
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 824 people
    • Lucas
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Lucas is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
    • Cotton Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Cotton Town is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Town
    • Subiaco
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Golden City ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Golden City is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden City
    • Blue Mountain
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Blue Mountain is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Mountain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Corley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Corley is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
  • Sebastian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vesta, with the one closest to Vesta listed first.
    • Ursula
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Ursula is located in Sebastian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursula
    • Lavaca
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Lavaca is located in Sebastian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavaca
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,439 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lavaca <1>
    • Bloomer
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Bloomer is located in Sebastian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomer
    • Central City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Central City is located in Sebastian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 497 people
    • Barling
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Greenwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Greenwood is located in Sebastian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,396 people
    • Jenny Lind
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Jenny Lind is located in Sebastian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenny Lind
    • Fort Smith
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Buell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Buell is located in Sebastian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buell
    • Bonanza
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Bonanza is located in Sebastian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonanza
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 560 people
    • Hackett
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Huntington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Huntington is located in Sebastian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 615 people
    • Mansfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Washington County
    • Winslow
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Le Flore County (OK)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vesta, with the one closest to Vesta listed first.
    • Arkoma
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Arkoma is located in Le Flore County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkoma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,894 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Arkoma <1>
    • Braden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Braden is located in Le Flore County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braden
    • Pocola
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Pocola is located in Le Flore County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,153 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pocola <1>
    • Rock Island
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Rock Island is located in Le Flore County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Island
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 648 people
    • Fort Coffee
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Fort Coffee is located in Le Flore County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Coffee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
  • Sequoyah County (OK)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vesta, with the one closest to Vesta listed first.
    • Moffett
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Moffett is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moffett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moffett <1>
    • Roland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Roland is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,020 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roland <1>
    • Short
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Short is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
    • Remy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Remy is located in Sequoyah County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Remy

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

Cemeteries Near Vesta ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vesta.

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

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

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

  • Hickory Ridge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Tate Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Hepseby Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Patterson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Browns Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Carruth Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Killings Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Parks Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Garden Memorial Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Burt Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (368 more) ...
    • King Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Berkley Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Arbuckle 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 in 1895, Vesta had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Beverly
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Beverly is located in Sebastian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
  • Dahoma ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Dahoma is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahoma
  • Charleston
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Donald ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Donald is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
  • Sub Rosa ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Sub Rosa is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sub Rosa
  • Island
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Island is located in Sebastian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island
  • Cecil
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cecil is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
  • Lavaca
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Lavaca is located in Sebastian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavaca
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,439 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lavaca <1>
  • Bloomer
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Bloomer is located in Sebastian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomer
  • Auburn ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Auburn is located in Sebastian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
  • Leon ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Leon is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
  • Poping
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Poping is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poping
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Dyer
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Dyer is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 893 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dyer <1>
    • Etna
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Etna is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
    • Caulksville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Caulksville is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caulksville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people

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

Newspapers Published in Vesta ...

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 116 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vesta.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Vesta, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Vesta.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Vesta:

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 Vesta, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 from Point A (ie- Vesta) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.