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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 Anderson (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 Anderson. 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.

Anderson is located in Grimes County and is the County Seat.

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 Grimes County: Brazos, Madison, Montgomery, Walker, Waller & Washington.

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

  • Grimes County     (The home county of Anderson)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Apolonia
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Apolonia is located in Grimes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apolonia
    • Roans Prairie
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Richards
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Shiro
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Stoneham
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Stoneham is located in Grimes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneham
    • Plantersville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Todd Mission
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Todd Mission is located in Grimes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todd Mission
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 112 people
    • Bedias
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Iola
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
  • Brazos County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Navasota
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Millican
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Allen Farm
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Allen Farm is located in Brazos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen Farm
    • Wellborn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • College Station
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Boonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Boonville is located in Brazos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boonville
    • Bryan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Bryan is located in Brazos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 88,165 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bryan <1>
    • Kurten
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Wixon Valley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Wixon Valley is located in Brazos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wixon Valley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
  • Burleson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Clay
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Merle ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Merle is located in Burleson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merle
    • Scofield ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Scofield is located in Burleson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scofield
    • Snook
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Harris County
    • Waller
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Zulch ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Zulch is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zulch
    • North Zulch
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Dacus
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Dacus is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dacus
    • Dobbin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Montgomery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Karen
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Karen is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karen
    • Magnolia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Danville ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Danville is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
    • Pinehurst
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Stagecoach
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Stagecoach is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stagecoach
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 604 people
    • Panorama Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Panorama Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,446 people
    • Willis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Willis is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,122 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Willis <1>
  • Walker County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Goshen ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Goshen is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
    • Wesley Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Wesley Grove is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley Grove
    • Elmina
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Elmina is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmina
    • New Waverly
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Huntsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Waller County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Fields Store
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Fields Store is located in Waller County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fields Store
    • Hempstead
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Prairie View
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Saint Paul
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Saint Paul is located in Waller County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • Pine Island
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Pine Island is located in Waller County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Island
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,205 people
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Washington ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Graball ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Graball is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graball
    • Whitman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Whitman is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitman
    • Independence
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Chappell Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Anderson ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Anderson.

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

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

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

  • Berryman Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Erwin Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Mason Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Neblett Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Kennard Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Little Flock Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Steele Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Pine Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Oakland Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Allen Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Harmony Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (158 more) ...
    • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Roans Prairie Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Fairview Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Anderson had a population of 572 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Anderson had a population of 248 people.

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

  • Apolonia
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Apolonia is located in Grimes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apolonia
  • Roans Prairie
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Navasota
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Yarboro
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Yarboro is located in Grimes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yarboro
  • Stoneham
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Stoneham is located in Grimes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneham
  • Whitehall
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Whitehall is located in Grimes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehall
  • Dacus
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Dacus is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dacus
  • Keith
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Keith is located in Grimes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keith
  • Millican
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Plantersville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Washington ‑ Historic
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Courtney
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Courtney is located in Grimes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Courtney
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Allen Farm
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Allen Farm is located in Brazos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen Farm
    • Graball ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Graball is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graball
    • Montgomery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Anderson ...

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 92 newspapers that have been published in the area around Anderson.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Anderson. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Anderson and those printed in the larger area surrounding Anderson.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Anderson.

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 Anderson:

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