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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 Bangs (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 Bangs. 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 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.

Bangs is located in Brown County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Brown County: Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, McCulloch, Mills & San Saba.

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

  • Brown County     (The home county of Bangs)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bangs, with the one closest to Bangs listed first.
    • Fry ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fry. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fry
      • Fry is located in Brown County
    • Brownwood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brownwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
      • Brownwood is located in Brown County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,208 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brownwood <3>
    • Early
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Lake Brownwood
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Brownwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Brownwood
      • Lake Brownwood is located in Brown County
    • Brookesmith
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Ricker ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ricker have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricker
      • Ricker is located in Brown County
    • Indian Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
      • Indian Creek is located in Brown County
    • Keys Crossing
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keys Crossing
      • Keys Crossing is located in Brown County
    • Zephyr
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Blanket
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Cross Cut
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Cut
      • Cross Cut is located in Brown County
    • May
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for May have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May
      • May is located in Brown County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for May <3>
  • Callahan County
    • Cross Plains
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Coleman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bangs, with the one closest to Bangs listed first.
    • Trickham
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trickham
      • Trickham is located in Coleman County
      • Former name for Trickham:
      • Trick'em
    • Santa Anna
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Coleman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Whon ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whon
      • Whon is located in Coleman County
    • Burkett
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Rockwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Gouldbusk
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Valera
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Valera have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valera
      • Valera is located in Coleman County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Valera <3>
    • Voss
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Voss. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voss
      • Voss is located in Coleman County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Voss <3>
  • Comanche County
    • Sidney
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sidney have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidney
      • Sidney is located in Comanche County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sidney <3>
  • Eastland County
    • Rising Star
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • McCulloch County
    • Waldrip
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Waldrip. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldrip
      • Waldrip is located in McCulloch County
  • Mills County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bangs, with the one closest to Bangs listed first.
    • Ebony ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ebony. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebony
      • Ebony is located in Mills County
    • Buffalo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Buffalo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
      • Buffalo is located in Mills County
    • Ridge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge
      • Ridge is located in Mills County
    • Regency ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Regency have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Regency
      • Regency is located in Mills County
    • Mullin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • San Saba County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bangs, with the one closest to Bangs listed first.
    • Holt ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
      • Holt is located in San Saba County
    • Locker ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locker
      • Locker is located in San Saba County

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

Cemeteries Near Bangs ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bangs.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Clear Creek Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Clear Creek Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Clear Creek Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mukewater Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mukewater Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mukewater Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • McDaniel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the McDaniel Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the McDaniel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Salem Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Salem Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Salem Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Cedar Point Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Cedar Point Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Cedar Point Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Greenleaf Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Mud Creek Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mud Creek Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mud Creek Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Lee Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lee Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lee Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jordan Springs Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Jordan Springs Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Jordan Springs Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Macedonia Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Macedonia Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Macedonia Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fairview Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fairview Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Smith Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Smith Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Smith Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (68 more) ...
    • Connell Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Connell Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Connell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Staley Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Staley Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Staley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Roberts Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Roberts Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Roberts Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Bangs had railroad service and no post office. In 2020, Bangs had a population of 1,504 people.

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

  • Thrifty
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Thrifty have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thrifty
    • Thrifty is located in Brown County
  • Brownwood
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brownwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
    • Brownwood is located in Brown County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,208 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brownwood <3>
  • Trickham
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trickham
    • Trickham is located in Coleman County
    • Former name for Trickham:
    • Trick'em
  • Santa Anna
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Ricker ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ricker have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricker
    • Ricker is located in Brown County
  • Indian Creek
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
    • Indian Creek is located in Brown County
  • Coleman
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
  • Milburn
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Milburn have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milburn
    • Milburn is located in McCulloch County
  • Zephyr
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
  • Rockwood
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Burkett
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
  • Blanket
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (12 more) ...
    • Cross Cut
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Cut
      • Cross Cut is located in Brown County
    • May
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for May have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May
      • May is located in Brown County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for May <3>
    • Valera
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Valera have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valera
      • Valera is located in Coleman County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Valera <3>

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Bangs ...

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 9 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bangs.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Bangs. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Bangs and those printed in the larger area surrounding Bangs.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<6> of Bangs.

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 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 Bangs:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Bangs. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Texas: https://texas.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>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.
<5>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 Bangs, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Bangs) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Bangs. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 31.7151, Longitude: -99.1309       In this case, the coordinates for Bangs have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025