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 Vista Shores (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 Vista Shores. 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 Vista Shores ...
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 Vista Shores: Vista Shrs.
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 doctors and 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.
Vista Shores is located in Benton 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 Benton County: Carroll, Madison, Washington, Barry (MO), McDonald (MO), Adair (OK) & Delaware (OK).
Below are the counties that are near Vista Shores. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Vista Shores:
- Benton County (The home county of Vista Shores)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vista Shores, with the one closest to Vista Shores listed first.
- Lost Bridge Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Lost Bridge Village is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Bridge Village
- Clantonville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Clantonville is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clantonville
- Garfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gateway
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Brightwater
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Brightwater is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brightwater
- Puckett ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Puckett is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Avoca
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Avoca is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 522 people
- War Eagle
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- War Eagle is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for War Eagle
- Prairie Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie Creek is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Creek
- Silver Springs ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Silver Springs is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Springs
- Pea Ridge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Rogers
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Little Flock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Little Flock is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Flock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,812 people
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vista Shores, with the one closest to Vista Shores listed first.
- Mundell ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mundell is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mundell
- Beaver
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Eureka Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Gaskins ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Gaskins is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskins
- Holiday Island
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Winona Springs ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Winona Springs is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winona Springs
- Berryville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Polo ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Polo is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polo
- Urbanette
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Urbanette is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urbanette
- Metalton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Metalton is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metalton
- Green Forest
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- New Town ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- New Town is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Oak Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Conway County
- Grandview
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Grandview is located in Conway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vista Shores, with the one closest to Vista Shores listed first.
- Hindsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Whitener
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Whitener is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitener
- Huntsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Marble
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Marble is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble
- Wesley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Wesley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
- Georgetown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vista Shores, with the one closest to Vista Shores listed first.
- War Eagle Cove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- War Eagle Cove is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for War Eagle Cove
- Spring Valley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Spring Valley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Blue Springs Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Blue Springs Village is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Springs Village
- Sonora
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sonora is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonora
- Mayfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Mayfield is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Springdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Goshen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Elm Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Johnson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Johnson is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,771 people
- Tontitown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Harris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Harris is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Fayetteville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Elkins
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Barry County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vista Shores, with the one closest to Vista Shores listed first.
- Seligman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Seligman is located in Barry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seligman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 835 people
- Washburn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Eagle Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chain-O-Lakes
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Chain-O-Lakes is located in Barry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chain-O-Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Golden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Thompsons Corner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Thompsons Corner is located in Barry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsons Corner
- Emerald Beach
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Emerald Beach is located in Barry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Beach
- Population from the 2020 Census: 244 people
- Cassville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Exeter
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Arrow Point
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Arrow Point is located in Barry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrow Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
- Ridgley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ridgley is located in Barry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgley
- Shell Knob
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hill City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hill City is located in Barry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill City
- McDonald County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vista Shores, with the one closest to Vista Shores listed first.
- Powell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Powell is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
- Jane
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Jane is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 311 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jane <1>
- Rocky Comfort
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rocky Comfort is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Comfort
- Wylie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wylie is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylie
- Pineville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Newton County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vista Shores, with the one closest to Vista Shores listed first.
- Stella
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Stone County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vista Shores, with the one closest to Vista Shores listed first.
- Lampe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Marmaros
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Marmaros is located in Stone County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marmaros
- Blue Eye
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Cape Fair
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Coney Island
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Coney Island is located in Stone County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coney Island
- Population from the 2020 Census: 76 people
- Kimberling City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Vista Shores, see our County-by-County Page for Vista Shores.
Cemeteries Near Vista Shores ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vista Shores.
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 Vista Shores - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Vista Shores covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Vista Shores, with the one closest to Vista Shores listed first.
- Clantonville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Walnut Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Fuller Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Bayless Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Martin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Webb Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Henson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Walden Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Beaver Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Snoderley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Williams Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (278 more) ...
- Alpine Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hatfield Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Carter Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<3>
While we didn't find Vista Shores in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Vista Shores.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Vista Shores, with the one closest to Vista Shores listed first.
- Mundell ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mundell is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mundell
- Garfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Larue
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Larue is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larue
- Walden ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Walden is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walden
- Seligman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Seligman is located in Barry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seligman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 835 people
- Beaver
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Buttry ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Buttry is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buttry
- Brightwater
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Brightwater is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brightwater
- Puckett ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Puckett is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Eureka Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Gaskins ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Gaskins is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskins
- Avoca
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Avoca is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 522 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Key ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Key is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Key
- Mayflower
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mayflower is located in Barry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayflower
- Washburn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Vista Shores. See our List of 1890's Communities around Vista Shores.
Newspapers Published in Vista Shores ...
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 107 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vista Shores.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Vista Shores, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Vista Shores.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Vista Shores:
- Websites specific to Arkansas
- Pages specific to Benton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carroll County
- Conway County
- Madison County
- Washington County
- Barry County
- McDonald County
- Newton County
- Stone 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 Vista Shores, 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' (or 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- Vista Shores) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |