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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 Avalon (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 Avalon. 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 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.

Avalon is located in Ellis 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 Ellis County: Dallas, Henderson, Hill, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro & Tarrant.

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

  • Ellis County     (The home county of Avalon)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avalon, with the one closest to Avalon listed first.
    • Nash
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Nash is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
    • Forreston
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Italy
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Howard
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Howard is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard
    • Bardwell
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Boz
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Boz is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boz
    • Milford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Boyce
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Boyce is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyce
    • Ennis
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Ike
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Ike is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ike
    • Waxahachie
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Garrett
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Garrett is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 891 people
    • Alma
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Alma is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avalon, with the one closest to Avalon listed first.
    • Ovilla
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Ferris
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Glenn Heights
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • DeSoto
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Lancaster
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Shamrock
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Shamrock is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shamrock
    • Wilmer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Cedar Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Hutchins
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Hill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avalon, with the one closest to Avalon listed first.
    • Mertens
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Brandon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Irene
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Carl's Corner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Carl's Corner is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl's Corner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
    • Malone
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Bynum
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Lovelace
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lovelace is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovelace
    • Itasca
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Hubbard
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Hillsboro
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Penelope
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Chatt
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Chatt is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatt
    • Abbott
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avalon, with the one closest to Avalon listed first.
    • Grandview
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Alvarado
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Cuba
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Cuba is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
    • Parker
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Parker is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
  • Kaufman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avalon, with the one closest to Avalon listed first.
    • Rosser
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cottonwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Cottonwood is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
    • Styx
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Styx is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Styx
  • Navarro County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avalon, with the one closest to Avalon listed first.
    • Frost
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Blooming Grove
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Cryer Creek ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Cryer Creek is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cryer Creek
    • Barry
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Emhouse
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Emhouse is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emhouse
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
    • Dresden
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Dresden is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresden
    • Rice
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Rice is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 983 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rice <1>
    • Navarro Mills
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Navarro Mills is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navarro Mills
    • Silver City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Silver City is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
    • Spring Hill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Spring Hill is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
    • Corsicana
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Oak Valley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Oak Valley is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Valley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
    • Purdon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Avalon ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Avalon.

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

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

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

  • Dean Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Maloney Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Hughes Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Austonia Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Glenwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Forreston Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Lone Oak Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Grady Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Bardwell Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Blanton - Hooser Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Sanderson Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Boren Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (154 more) ...
    • Blanton Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Frost Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Grange Hall Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Avalon had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Nash
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Nash is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
  • Italy
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Frost
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Blooming Grove
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Cryer Creek ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Cryer Creek is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cryer Creek
  • Milford
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Boz
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Boz is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boz
  • Mertens
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Barry
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Ennis
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Boyce
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Boyce is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyce
  • Waxahachie
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Dresden
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Dresden is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresden
    • Brandon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Alma
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Alma is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people

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

Newspapers Published in Avalon ...

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 79 newspapers that have been published in the area around Avalon.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Avalon, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Avalon.

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 Avalon:

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>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 Avalon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Avalon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.