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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 Aiken (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 Aiken. 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/Parishes ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties/parishes.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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/parishes 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 south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties/parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Aiken is located in Shelby County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Shelby County: De Soto (LA), Sabine (LA), Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine & San Augustine.

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

  • Shelby County     (The home county of Aiken)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aiken, with the one closest to Aiken listed first.
    • Arcadia
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Arcadia is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Short
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Short is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
    • Choice
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Choice is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choice
    • Center
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Africa ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Africa is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
    • Shelbyville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Timpson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Tenaha
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Campti
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Campti is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campti
    • Joaquin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Haslam
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Haslam is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haslam
    • Huxley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Huxley is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huxley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
  • Angelina County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aiken, with the one closest to Aiken listed first.
    • Ewing
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Ewing is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewing
    • Platt
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Platt is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platt
    • Thomas Crossing
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Thomas Crossing is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Crossing
    • River Crest Estates
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • River Crest Estates is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Crest Estates
    • Alco
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Alco is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alco
    • Moffitt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Moffitt is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moffitt
    • Dunagan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Dunagan is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunagan
    • Ora
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Ora is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
    • Davisville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Davisville is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davisville
    • Rocky Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Rocky Springs is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Springs
    • Oak Flat
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Oak Flat is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Flat
    • Herty
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Herty is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herty
    • Redland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Redland is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redland
  • Nacogdoches County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aiken, with the one closest to Aiken listed first.
    • Martinsville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Attoyac
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Attoyac is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attoyac
    • Swift
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Swift is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift
    • Whispering Pines
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Whispering Pines is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Pines
    • Fitze
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Fitze is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitze
    • Garrison
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Chireno
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Appleby
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Appleby is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
    • Woden
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Nacogdoches
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Redfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Redfield is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfield
    • Etoile
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Trawick
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Trawick is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trawick
  • Panola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aiken, with the one closest to Aiken listed first.
    • Woods
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Woods is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods
    • Gary City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Dotson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Dotson is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotson
    • Buncome
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Buncome is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buncome
    • Murvaul
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Murvaul is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murvaul
    • Clayton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Long Branch
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Rusk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aiken, with the one closest to Aiken listed first.
    • Caledonia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Caledonia is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
    • Concord
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Concord is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Mount Enterprise
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Sulphur Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Sulphur Springs is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
    • Brachfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Brachfield is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brachfield
  • Sabine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aiken, with the one closest to Aiken listed first.
    • Geneva
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Rosevine
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Rosevine is located in Sabine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosevine
    • Bronson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • San Augustine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aiken, with the one closest to Aiken listed first.
    • Denning
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Denning is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
    • San Augustine
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Maxey Town
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Maxey Town is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxey Town
    • Rebecca
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Rebecca is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rebecca
    • Broaddus
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Zana ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Zana is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zana
  • De Soto Parish (LA)
    • Logansport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Aiken ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Aiken.

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

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

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

  • Holmes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Sardis Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Lucas Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Powdrill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Pilgrim Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Nicholson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Spring Ridge Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Gethsemane Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • McCadley Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Hamilton Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Holt Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (241 more) ...
    • Borders Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Mt. Gillion Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Mast Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)

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

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

  • Martinsville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Ironosa
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Ironosa is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironosa
  • Short
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Short is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
  • Huber
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Huber is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huber
  • Swift
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Swift is located in Nacogdoches County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift
  • Center
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Melrose
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Melrose is located in Nacogdoches County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
  • Chireno
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Denning
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Denning is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
  • Garrison
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Fitze
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Fitze is located in Nacogdoches County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitze
  • Timpson
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Shelbyville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Appleby
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Appleby is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
    • Woden
      (17 miles [27.4 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 Aiken. See our List of 1890's Communities around Aiken.

Newspapers Published in Aiken ...

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 59 newspapers that have been published in the area around Aiken.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Aiken, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Aiken.

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 Aiken:

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 from Point A (ie- Aiken) 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 Aiken, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.