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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Ruark. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Ruark to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Ruark, 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 Ruark (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 Ruark. 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 hospitals 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Ruark is historic, it would have been located within present day Dougherty 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 Dougherty County: Baker, Calhoun, Lee, Mitchell, Terrell & Worth.

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

  • Dougherty County     (The home county of Ruark)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Turner City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Turner City is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner City
    • Tompkins Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Tompkins Village is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkins Village
    • Colonial Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Colonial Village is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • East Towne
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • East Towne is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Towne
    • Eleanor Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Eleanor Village is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor Village
    • Elon Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Elon Village is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elon Village
    • Pecan City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Pecan City is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecan City
    • Hinds
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Hinds is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinds
      • Estimated population in 2019: 33,273 people
    • Albany
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Albany is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 70,839 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Albany <2>
    • Eugemar
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Eugemar is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eugemar
      • Estimated population in 2019: 4,367 people
    • Relswood Terrace
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Relswood Terrace is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Relswood Terrace
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,079 people
    • Colonial Place
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Colonial Place is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Place
    • Dawson Heights
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Dawson Heights is located in Dougherty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson Heights
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,246 people
  • Baker County
    • Newton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Holt
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Holt is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
    • Leary
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Colquitt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Doerun
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Minnesota
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Minnesota is located in Colquitt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesota
    • Hartsfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Funston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Crisp County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Arabi
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Milldale ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Milldale is located in Crisp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milldale
      • Estimated population in 2019: 18,704 people
    • Cordele
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • McKenzie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • McKenzie is located in Crisp County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKenzie
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Philema
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Philema is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philema
    • Palmyra
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Palmyra is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
    • Leesburg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Chokee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Chokee is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chokee
    • Smithville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
  • Mitchell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • De Witt
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • De Witt is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 154 people
    • Baconton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Greenough
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Greenough is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenough
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,304 people
    • Flint
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Flint is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
    • Sale City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Pebble City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Pebble City is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble City
    • Camilla
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Sumter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • De Soto
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Cobb
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Leslie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Sumter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumter
    • Danville ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Danville is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
      • Estimated population in 2019: 212 people
  • Terrell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Sasser
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Bronwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Olivers Mill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Olivers Mill is located in Terrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivers Mill
      • Estimated population in 2019: 230 people
    • Herod
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Herod is located in Terrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herod
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 3,384 people
    • Dawson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Clarks Mill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Clarks Mill is located in Terrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Mill
      • Estimated population in 2019: 12,637 people
    • Yeomans
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Yeomans is located in Terrell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeomans
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 507 people
  • Tift County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Ty Ty
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Chula
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Turner County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Hobby
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Hobby is located in Turner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobby
      • Estimated population in 2019: 536 people
    • Ashburn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Sycamore
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
  • Worth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • East Dougherty
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • East Dougherty is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Dougherty
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,398 people
    • Oakfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Alfords
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Alfords is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfords
    • Sylvester
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Cuffietown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Cuffietown is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuffietown
      • Estimated population in 2019: 186 people
    • Warwick
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Bridgeboro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Liberty Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Liberty Hill is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
    • Poulan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sumner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Anderson City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Anderson City is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson City

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

Cemeteries Near Ruark ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ruark.

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

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

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

  • Mt. Holder Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • St. James Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Thundering Springs Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Old Mt. Horeb Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Mt. Horeb Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Friendship Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Lowe Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Oakview Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Morning Star Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (183 more) ...
    • Salem Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Shady Grove Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Carver Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)

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.

Ruark itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Acree
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Acree is located in Dougherty County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acree
  • Albany
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Albany is located in Dougherty County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 70,839 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Albany <2>
  • Willingham ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Willingham is located in Worth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willingham
  • Palmyra
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Palmyra is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
  • Doles
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Doles is located in Worth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doles
  • Leesburg
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Isabella
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Isabella is located in Worth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isabella
  • Sylvester
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Parkerville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Parkerville is located in Worth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkerville
  • De Witt
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • De Witt is located in Mitchell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
    • Population from the 2010 Census: 154 people
  • Warwick
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Armena
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Armena is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armena
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Poulan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Baconton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Chokee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Chokee is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chokee

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

Newspapers Published in Ruark ...

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 Ruark.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ruark, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ruark.

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 Ruark:

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 Ruark, 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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Ruark) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.