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 Houston (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 Houston. 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 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.
Houston is located in Heard County.
To see how the shape of Georgia's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Heard County: Randolph (AL), Carroll, Coweta & Troup.
Below are the counties that are near Houston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Houston:
- Heard County (The home county of Houston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Glenn
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- O'Neals Crossroad
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- O'Neals Crossroad is located in Heard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neals Crossroad
- Riverside
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Riverside is located in Heard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Franklin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Corinth
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Corinth is located in Heard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Frolona
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Frolona is located in Heard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frolona
- Centralhatchee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Centralhatchee is located in Heard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centralhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
- Yates Crossroads
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Yates Crossroads is located in Heard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 360 people
- Roosterville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Roosterville is located in Heard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roosterville
- Ephesus
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Ephesus is located in Heard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ephesus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 459 people
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Bowers Ferry
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bowers Ferry is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowers Ferry
- Estimated population in 2019: 485 people
- Roopville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lowell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Lowell is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Tyus
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Tyus is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyus
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,525 people
- Bowdon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Whitesburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fairlawn Estates
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Fairlawn Estates is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairlawn Estates
- Estimated population in 2019: 736 people
- Jonesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Jonesville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesville
- Carrollton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Coweta County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Grantville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Smith City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Smith City is located in Coweta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith City
- Moreland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Smokey Acres
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Smokey Acres is located in Coweta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smokey Acres
- Estimated population in 2019: 56,666 people
- Bexton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bexton is located in Coweta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bexton
- East Newnan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- East Newnan is located in Coweta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Newnan
- Newnan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sargent
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sharpsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Harris County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Pine Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Pine Lake is located in Harris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lake
- Mountainbrook
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mountainbrook is located in Harris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountainbrook
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,108 people
- Pine Mountain
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Mountain Hill is located in Harris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 11,554 people
- Pine Mountain Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Meriwether County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Lone Oak
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lone Oak is located in Meriwether County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Oak
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Luthersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Greenville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Rocky Mount
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Rocky Mount is located in Meriwether County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Mount
- Harris City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Harris City is located in Meriwether County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris City
- Troup County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Graysons Landing
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Graysons Landing is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graysons Landing
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,452 people
- Sunny Point
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sunny Point is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Point
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,303 people
- Vernon ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Vernon is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Sassafrass Hills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sassafrass Hills is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassafrass Hills
- Estimated population in 2019: 255 people
- Abbottsford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Abbottsford is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbottsford
- Evansville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Evansville is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Asta Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Asta Village is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asta Village
- Brays Lakeview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Brays Lakeview is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brays Lakeview
- Rockwell Estates
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rockwell Estates is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwell Estates
- West Lake Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- West Lake Village is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lake Village
- LaGrange
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hogansville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Chambers County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- McCosh Mill ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- McCosh Mill is located in Chambers County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCosh Mill
- Evansville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Evansville is located in Chambers County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Standing Rock
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Standing Rock is located in Chambers County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standing Rock
- Stroud
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Stroud is located in Chambers County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stroud
- Fredonia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fredonia is located in Chambers County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Five Points
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Five Points is located in Chambers County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Doublehead
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Doublehead is located in Chambers County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doublehead
- Clackville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Clackville is located in Chambers County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clackville
- Lanett
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Chapel Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chapel Hill is located in Chambers County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- Red Level
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Red Level is located in Chambers County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Milltown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Milltown is located in Chambers County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
- Clay County (AL)
- Motley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Motley is located in Clay County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Cleburne County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Ranburne
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hightower
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hightower is located in Cleburne County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightower
- Lee County (AL)
- Blanton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Blanton is located in Lee County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanton
- Randolph County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Rock Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rock Mills is located in Randolph County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Mills
- High Shoals
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- High Shoals is located in Randolph County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Shoals
- Roanoke
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- West
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- West is located in Randolph County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West
- Sewell
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Sewell is located in Randolph County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewell
- Peavy
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Peavy is located in Randolph County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peavy
- Corbin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Corbin is located in Randolph County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corbin
- Woodland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wedowee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Graham
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Graham is located in Randolph County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Forester Chapel
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Forester Chapel is located in Randolph County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forester Chapel
- Cambridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cambridge is located in Randolph County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge
- Tallapoosa County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Truett
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Truett is located in Tallapoosa County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truett
- Frog Eye
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Frog Eye is located in Tallapoosa County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frog Eye
- Daviston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Houston, see our County-by-County Page for Houston.
Cemeteries Near Houston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Houston.
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 Houston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Houston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Liberty Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Brett Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Zachary Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Western Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Turman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Glenn - Burpee - Cole Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Garrett Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Harris Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Persons Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Whatley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Antioch Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (525 more) ...
- Owensby Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
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 Houston had a population of 70 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2010, Houston had a population of 110 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Owensbyville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Owensbyville is located in Heard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owensbyville
- Glenn
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Texas
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Texas is located in Heard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Texas
- Viola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Viola is located in Heard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Vernon ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Vernon is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Evansville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Evansville is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Franklin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rock Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rock Mills is located in Randolph County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Mills
- Cooksville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cooksville is located in Heard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooksville
- Finley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Finley is located in Chambers County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finley
- Crowder ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Crowder is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowder
- LaGrange
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Wehadkee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wehadkee is located in Randolph County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wehadkee
- Whitfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Whitfield is located in Troup County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- Frolona
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Frolona is located in Heard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frolona
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Houston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Houston.
Newspapers Published in Houston ...
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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Houston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Houston, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Houston.
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 Houston:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Heard County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carroll County
- Coweta County
- Harris County
- Meriwether County
- Troup County
- Chambers County
- Clay County
- Cleburne County
- Lee County
- Randolph County
- Tallapoosa County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Georgia
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 Houston, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Houston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |