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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 Jay (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 Jay. 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.

Jay is located in Delaware County and is the County Seat.

To see how the shape of Oklahoma's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Delaware County: Benton (AR), McDonald (MO), Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Mayes & Ottawa.

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

  • Delaware County     (The home county of Jay)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jay, with the one closest to Jay listed first.
    • Brush Creek
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Brush Creek is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
    • Sycamore
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Sycamore is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
    • New Eucha
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • New Eucha is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Eucha
    • Zena
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Zena is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zena
    • Eucha
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Dennis
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Dennis is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennis
    • Bull Hollow
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bull Hollow is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull Hollow
    • Tagg Flats
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Tagg Flats is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tagg Flats
    • Old Eucha
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Old Eucha is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Eucha
    • Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Cloud Creek
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Colcord
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Adair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jay, with the one closest to Jay listed first.
    • Chewey
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Ballard
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Watts
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Chance
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Watts Community
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Watts Community is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watts Community
  • Cherokee County
  • Craig County
  • Mayes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jay, with the one closest to Jay listed first.
    • Disney
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Grand Lake Towne
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Grand Lake Towne is located in Mayes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Lake Towne
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
    • Langley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Spavinaw
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Hoot Owl
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Hoot Owl is located in Mayes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoot Owl
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4 people
    • Pensacola
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Strang
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Rose
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Wickliffe
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Wickliffe is located in Mayes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wickliffe
    • Pump Back
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Salina
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Snake Creek
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Snake Creek is located in Mayes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snake Creek
  • Ottawa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jay, with the one closest to Jay listed first.
    • Afton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Fairland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Kellyville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Wyandotte
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Narcissa
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Narcissa is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narcissa
    • Ottawa
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Dotyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Dotyville is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotyville
  • Benton County (AR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jay, with the one closest to Jay listed first.
    • Maysville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Rome City ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Rome City is located in Benton County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome City
    • Pactolus ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Pactolus is located in Benton County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pactolus
    • Cherokee City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Decatur
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Gravette
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Sulphur Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Gallatin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Gallatin is located in Benton County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallatin
    • Gentry
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Hico
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Hico is located in Benton County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hico
    • Siloam Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Springtown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Springtown is located in Benton County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springtown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
  • McDonald County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jay, with the one closest to Jay listed first.
    • South West City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Noel
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Noel is located in McDonald County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,808 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Noel <1>
    • Tiff City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Tiff City is located in McDonald County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiff City
    • Ginger Blue
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Ginger Blue is located in McDonald County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ginger Blue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
    • Lanagan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Lanagan is located in McDonald County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanagan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 403 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lanagan <1>
    • Pineville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Anderson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • May
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Jane
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Goodman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Goodman is located in McDonald County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,258 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Goodman <1>
    • Wylie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Newton County (MO)
    • Seneca
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Seneca is located in Newton County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,394 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Seneca <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Jay ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Jay.

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

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

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

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>

While we didn't find Jay in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Jay.

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

  • Maysville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • South West City
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Cherokee City
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Pactolus ‑ Historic
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Pactolus is located in Benton County (AR)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pactolus
  • Beaty
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Beaty is located in Benton County (AR)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaty
  • Saratoga
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Saratoga is located in McDonald County (MO)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
  • Crump ‑ Historic
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Crump is located in Benton County (AR)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crump
  • Bloomfield
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bloomfield is located in Benton County (AR)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
  • Round Top ‑ Historic
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Round Top is located in Benton County (AR)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Top
  • Noel
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Noel is located in McDonald County (MO)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,808 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Noel <1>
  • Decatur
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
  • Clementine ‑ Historic
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Clementine is located in Benton County (AR)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clementine
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Nebo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Nebo is located in Benton County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nebo
    • Sulphur Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Tiff City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Tiff City is located in McDonald County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiff City

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Jay ...

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 126 newspapers that have been published in the area around Jay.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Jay. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Jay and those printed in the larger area surrounding Jay.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3> of Jay.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Jay:

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>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 from Point A (ie- Jay) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Jay, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.