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 Bethel Springs (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 Bethel Springs. 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 Bethel Springs ...
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 Bethel Springs: Bethel Spgs. (or less commonly used: Bethel Spngs. or Bethel Sprngs.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Bethel Springs. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Bethel Springs.
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 Parishes/Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring parishes/counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most doctors were in the next parish to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the parish to the north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring parishes/counties instead of the parish in which they lived: their home parish contained property and probate records; the parish to the west contained birth and death records; the parish to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring parishes/counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Bethel Springs is located in Union Parish.
To see how the shape of Louisiana's parishes may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following parishes adjoin and form the boundaries of Union Parish: Ashley (AR), Union (AR), Claiborne, Lincoln, Morehouse & Ouachita.
Below are the parishes/counties that are near Bethel Springs. For each of these parishes/counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bethel Springs:
- Union Parish (The home parish of Bethel Springs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel Springs, with the one closest to Bethel Springs listed first.
- Lillie
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Spearsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pisgah
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pisgah is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Bernice
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Cane Ridge ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Cane Ridge is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Ridge
- Truxno
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Truxno is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truxno
- Oakland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Oakland is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Farmerville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Marion
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Downsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bienville Parish
- Arcadia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Claiborne Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel Springs, with the one closest to Bethel Springs listed first.
- Wards Mill ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wards Mill is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wards Mill
- Junction City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Junction City is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 557 people
- Weldon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Weldon is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Summerfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Summerfield is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Lisbon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Arizona
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Arizona is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arizona
- Gordon
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Gordon is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Sugar Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sugar Creek is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Creek
- Homer
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Haynesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Athens
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Blackburn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Blackburn is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
- Dykesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Dykesville is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dykesville
- Lincoln Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel Springs, with the one closest to Bethel Springs listed first.
- Hico
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Hico is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hico
- Dubach
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Vining Mills ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Vining Mills is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining Mills
- Unionville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Unionville is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
- Vienna
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Vienna is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 365 people
- Cedarton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cedarton is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarton
- Grambling
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Ruston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Simsboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Sibley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sibley is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
- Columbia County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel Springs, with the one closest to Bethel Springs listed first.
- Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Village is located in Columbia County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village
- Emerson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Emerson is located in Columbia County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
- Ouachita County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel Springs, with the one closest to Bethel Springs listed first.
- Joyce City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Joyce City is located in Ouachita County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joyce City
- Louann
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Louann is located in Ouachita County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louann
- Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
- Union County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel Springs, with the one closest to Bethel Springs listed first.
- Junction City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Junction City is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 520 people
- Blanchard Springs ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Blanchard Springs is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchard Springs
- Scotland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Scotland is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotland
- Dodge City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Dodge City is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- El Dorado
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Dumas City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Dumas City is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas City
- Urbana
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Urbana is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urbana
- Lawson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lawson is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawson
- Lisbon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Lisbon is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Perdue City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Perdue City is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perdue City
- Strong
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Norphlet
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Norphlet is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norphlet
- Population from the 2020 Census: 772 people
- Crain City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Crain City is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crain City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bethel Springs, see our Parish-by-Parish Page for Bethel Springs.
Cemeteries Near Bethel Springs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bethel Springs.
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 Bethel Springs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bethel Springs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bethel Springs, with the one closest to Bethel Springs listed first.
- Bethel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Union Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fellowship Memorial Gardens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Brantley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hard Shell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pilgrims Rest Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Community Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Graceland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Roselawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Beech Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Alabama - Weldon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (316 more) ...
- Scotland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Antioch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Summerfield Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<2>
While we didn't find Bethel Springs in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bethel Springs.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethel Springs, with the one closest to Bethel Springs listed first.
- Wards Mill ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wards Mill is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wards Mill
- Blanchard Springs ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Blanchard Springs is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchard Springs
- Spearsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Summerfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Summerfield is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Weldon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Weldon is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Caledonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Caledonia is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Cornie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Cornie is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornie
- Cane Ridge ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Cane Ridge is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Ridge
- Wesson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Wesson is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesson
- Clayton ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clayton is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Three Creeks
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Three Creeks is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Creeks
- Shiloh
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Shiloh is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Cherry Ridge ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Cherry Ridge is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Ridge
- Antioch
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Antioch is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Lisbon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bethel Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bethel Springs.
Newspapers Published in Bethel Springs ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bethel Springs.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bethel Springs, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bethel Springs.
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 helpful 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 Bethel Springs:
- Websites specific to Louisiana
- Pages specific to Union Parish
- Genealogy information for nearby parishes
- Bienville Parish
- Claiborne Parish
- Lincoln Parish
- Columbia County
- Ouachita County
- Union County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Louisiana
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 Bethel Springs, 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- Bethel Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |