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 Valley Ridge (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 Valley Ridge. 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 Valley Ridge ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Valley Ridge: Valley Rdg. (or less commonly used: Valley Rdge. or Valley Ridg.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Valley Ridge. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Valley Ridge.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.
Valley Ridge is located in Dunklin County.
To see how the shape of Missouri's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Dunklin County: Clay (AR), Craighead (AR), Greene (AR), Mississippi (AR), Butler, New Madrid, Pemiscot & Stoddard.
Below are the counties that are near Valley Ridge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Valley Ridge:
- Dunklin County (The home county of Valley Ridge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Campbell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Malden
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Wrightsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wrightsville is located in Dunklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsville
- Gibson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Gibson is located in Dunklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Clarkton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clarkton is located in Dunklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,139 people
- Holcomb
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Pine City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Pine City is located in Dunklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine City
- White Oak
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- White Oak is located in Dunklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Sumach
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Sumach is located in Dunklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumach
- Kennett
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Tinkerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Tinkerville is located in Dunklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tinkerville
- Caruth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Caruth is located in Dunklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caruth
- Senath
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Senath is located in Dunklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Senath
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,596 people
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Qulin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Qulin is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Qulin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 459 people
- Fagus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Fagus is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fagus
- Broseley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oglesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Oglesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oglesville
- Fisk
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kelly Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kelly Town is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly Town
- Poplar Bluff
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rombauer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rombauer is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rombauer
- Harviell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Neelyville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- New Madrid County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Gideon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Risco
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Parma
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Parma is located in New Madrid County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 602 people
- Tallapoosa
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Tallapoosa is located in New Madrid County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallapoosa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
- Catron
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Catron is located in New Madrid County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Portageville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Conran
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Conran is located in New Madrid County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conran
- North Lilbourn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- North Lilbourn is located in New Madrid County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lilbourn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
- Canalou
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Canalou is located in New Madrid County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canalou
- Population from the 2020 Census: 286 people
- Howardville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Howardville is located in New Madrid County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howardville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
- Lilbourn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Marston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Kewanee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Kewanee is located in New Madrid County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kewanee
- Pemiscot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Peach Orchard
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Peach Orchard is located in Pemiscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peach Orchard
- North Wardell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- North Wardell is located in Pemiscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wardell
- Wardell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wardell is located in Pemiscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wardell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 354 people
- Homestown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Homestown is located in Pemiscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homestown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Bragg City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bragg City is located in Pemiscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Hayward
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hayward is located in Pemiscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayward
- Mid City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mid City is located in Pemiscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
- Pascola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pascola is located in Pemiscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pascola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Netherlands
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Netherlands is located in Pemiscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Netherlands
- Deering
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Deering is located in Pemiscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deering
- Hayti Heights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hayti Heights is located in Pemiscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayti Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
- Gobler
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Gobler is located in Pemiscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gobler
- Hayti
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ripley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Naylor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Naylor is located in Ripley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naylor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Fairdealing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Fairdealing is located in Ripley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdealing
- Stoddard County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Bernie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dudley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Dudley is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Dexter
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- LaValle
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- LaValle is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaValle
- Essex
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Essex is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essex
- Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
- Penermon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Penermon is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penermon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
- Baker
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Baker is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Population from the 2010 Census: 3 people
- Bloomfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Grayridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Grayridge is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayridge
- Circle City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Circle City is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Circle City
- Puxico
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Guam ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Guam is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guam
- Leora
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Leora is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leora
- Wayne County
- Wappapello
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Clay County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Saint Francis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Piggott
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pollard
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Nimmons
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Nimmons is located in Clay County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nimmons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
- Greenway
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenway is located in Clay County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
- Bell City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bell City is located in Clay County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell City
- McDougal
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- McDougal is located in Clay County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDougal
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Rector
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Moark
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Moark is located in Clay County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moark
- Corning
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Greene County (AR)
- Marmaduke
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Valley Ridge, see our County-by-County Page for Valley Ridge.
Cemeteries Near Valley Ridge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Valley Ridge.
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 Valley Ridge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Valley Ridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Elder Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Snider Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hopwood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Vincent Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Four Mile Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Tucker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Bethany Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Bethany Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<2> to the northwest of Malden.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2145191 <3>
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Rocky Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Gravel Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Mills Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Park Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (241 more) ...
- Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Macedonia Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Stevens Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Valley Ridge had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Campbell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Malden
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Wrightsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wrightsville is located in Dunklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsville
- Saint Francis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bernie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Qulin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Qulin is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Qulin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 459 people
- Clarkton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clarkton is located in Dunklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,139 people
- Holcomb
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Pollard
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Piggott
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Carola ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Carola is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carola
- Dudley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Dudley is located in Stoddard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- White Oak
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- White Oak is located in Dunklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Ash Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ash Hill is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Hill
- Greenway
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenway is located in Clay County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Valley Ridge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Valley Ridge.
Newspapers Published in Valley Ridge ...
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 81 newspapers that have been published in the area around Valley Ridge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Valley Ridge, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Valley Ridge.
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 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 Valley Ridge:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Dunklin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- New Madrid County
- Pemiscot County
- Ripley County
- Stoddard County
- Wayne County
- Clay County
- Greene County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Missouri
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> | 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- Valley Ridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Valley Ridge, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |