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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 Sparks (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 Sparks. 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 and hospitals 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.

Sparks is located in Lincoln County.

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 Lincoln County: Creek, Logan, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Payne & Pottawatomie.

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

  • Lincoln County     (The home county of Sparks)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sparks, with the one closest to Sparks listed first.
    • Davenport
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Chandler
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Meeker
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Warwick
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Warwick is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwick
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 150 people
    • Prague
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Kendrick
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Kendrick is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendrick
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
    • Jacktown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jacktown is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacktown
    • Stroud
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Wellston
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Parkland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Parkland is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland
    • Ingram
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Ingram is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingram
    • Carney
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Creek County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sparks, with the one closest to Sparks listed first.
    • Milfay
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Depew
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Shamrock
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Pulaski ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Pulaski is located in Creek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
    • Bristow
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Drumright
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Logan County
    • Meridian
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Okfuskee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sparks, with the one closest to Sparks listed first.
    • Paden
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Boley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Boley is located in Okfuskee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,167 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boley <1>
    • Ixl
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Ixl is located in Okfuskee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ixl
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
    • Castle
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Castle is located in Okfuskee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
    • Mason
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Mason is located in Okfuskee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
    • Bearden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Bearden is located in Okfuskee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
  • Oklahoma County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sparks, with the one closest to Sparks listed first.
    • Luther
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Harrah
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Newalla
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Choctaw
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Jones
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Jones is located in Oklahoma County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,223 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jones <1>
    • Woods
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Woods is located in Oklahoma County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods
    • Lake Hiwassee
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Lake Hiwassee is located in Oklahoma County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Hiwassee
    • Arcadia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Nicoma Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Payne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sparks, with the one closest to Sparks listed first.
    • Cottingham
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Cottingham is located in Payne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottingham
    • Cushing
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Vinco
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Vinco is located in Payne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinco
    • North Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • North Village is located in Payne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Village
    • Perkins
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Ripley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Schlegel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Schlegel is located in Payne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schlegel
  • Pottawatomie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sparks, with the one closest to Sparks listed first.
    • Bellemont
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Bellemont is located in Pottawatomie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellemont
    • Aydelotte
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Aydelotte is located in Pottawatomie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aydelotte
    • Johnson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Johnson is located in Pottawatomie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 446 people
    • Dale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Dale is located in Pottawatomie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
    • Shawnee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Shawnee is located in Pottawatomie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawnee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 31,555 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Shawnee <1>
    • McLoud
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • McLoud is located in Pottawatomie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLoud
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,800 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for McLoud <1>
    • Earlsboro
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Tecumseh
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Bethel Acres
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bethel Acres is located in Pottawatomie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel Acres
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,262 people
    • Brooksville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Brooksville is located in Pottawatomie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooksville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
    • Pink
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Pink is located in Pottawatomie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pink
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,187 people
  • Seminole County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sparks, with the one closest to Sparks listed first.
    • Cromwell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Seminole
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Sparks ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sparks.

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

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

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

  • White Dove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Booker Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Morning Star Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Bethel Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Dunkard Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Forest Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Sunnyside Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Kellerby Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Victor Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • New Zion Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • St. Paul Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (231 more) ...
    • Cardwell Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Valley Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Guild Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)

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 Sparks in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sparks.

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

  • Chandler
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Davenport
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Clifton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Clifton is located in Lincoln County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
  • Arlington
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Arlington is located in Lincoln County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
  • Bellemont
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Bellemont is located in Pottawatomie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellemont
  • Warwick
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Warwick is located in Lincoln County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwick
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 150 people
  • Stroud
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Wellston
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Parkland
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Parkland is located in Lincoln County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland
  • Ingram
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Ingram is located in Lincoln County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingram
  • Dale
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Dale is located in Pottawatomie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
  • Shawnee
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Shawnee is located in Pottawatomie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawnee
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 31,555 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Shawnee <1>
  • Continue List   (6 more) ...
    • Tecumseh
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Cushing
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Choctaw
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Sparks ...

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 155 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sparks.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Sparks. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Sparks and those printed in the larger area surrounding Sparks.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3> of Sparks.

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 Sparks:

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 '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- Sparks) 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 Sparks, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.