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 Bear Creek (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 Bear Creek. 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.
Name Variations for Bear Creek ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Bear Creek: Bear Crk. (or less commonly used: Bear Ck. or Bear Cr.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Bear Creek. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Bear Creek.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 and hospitals 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.
Bear Creek is located in Hays 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 Hays County: Blanco, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe & Travis.
Below are the counties that are near Bear Creek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bear Creek:
- Hays County (The home county of Bear Creek)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Creek, with the one closest to Bear Creek listed first.
- Hays
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hays is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hays
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Fitzhugh
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fitzhugh is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzhugh
- Driftwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Flatrock Ford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Flatrock Ford is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatrock Ford
- Dripping Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Buda
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mountain City is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 858 people
- Mount Gainor
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Mount Gainor is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gainor
- Kyle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Goforth
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Goforth is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goforth
- Woodcreek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Woodcreek is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodcreek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,758 people
- Wimberley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Henly
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Henly is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henly
- Bastrop County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Creek, with the one closest to Bear Creek listed first.
- Mustang Ridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mustang Ridge is located in Bastrop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mustang Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,001 people
- Cedar Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Wyldwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Wyldwood is located in Bastrop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyldwood
- Blanco County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Creek, with the one closest to Bear Creek listed first.
- Cypress Mill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Johnson City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Round Mountain
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Blanco
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Twin Sisters
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Twin Sisters is located in Blanco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Sisters
- Burnet County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Creek, with the one closest to Bear Creek listed first.
- Spicewood
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Shovel Mountain
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shovel Mountain is located in Burnet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shovel Mountain
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Creek, with the one closest to Bear Creek listed first.
- Niederwald
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Niederwald is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niederwald
- Population from the 2020 Census: 576 people
- Uhland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Uhland is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uhland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,355 people
- Mendoza
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mendoza is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendoza
- Reedville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Reedville is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedville
- Maxwell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lytton Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Lytton Springs is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lytton Springs
- Martindale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lockhart
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Johns Colony
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Johns Colony is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns Colony
- Dale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Comal County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Creek, with the one closest to Bear Creek listed first.
- Royal Forest
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Royal Forest is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Forest
- Fischer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Canyon City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Canyon City is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon City
- Hunter
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hunter is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Cranes Mill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cranes Mill is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranes Mill
- Fourth Crossing
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fourth Crossing is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fourth Crossing
- Sattler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sattler is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sattler
- Canyon Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Canyon Lake Forest
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Canyon Lake Forest is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon Lake Forest
- Canyon Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Canyon Springs is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon Springs
- Third Crossing
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Third Crossing is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Third Crossing
- Westhaven
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Westhaven is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westhaven
- Second Crossing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Second Crossing is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Second Crossing
- Guadalupe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Creek, with the one closest to Bear Creek listed first.
- Redwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Redwood is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Staples
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Zorn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Zorn is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zorn
- Galle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Galle is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galle
- Travis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Creek, with the one closest to Bear Creek listed first.
- Shady Hollow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Shady Hollow is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Hollow
- Tanglewood Forest
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Tanglewood Forest is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewood Forest
- San Leanna
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- San Leanna is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Leanna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 507 people
- Sunset Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Manchaca
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bee Cave
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Barton Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Barton Creek is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton Creek
- Onion Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Onion Creek is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onion Creek
- Lost Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lost Creek is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
- West Lake Hills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- West Lake Hills is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lake Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,254 people
- The Hills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- The Hills is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,456 people
- Rollingwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rollingwood is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollingwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,571 people
- Carl
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Carl is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bear Creek, with the one closest to Bear Creek listed first.
- Anderson Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Anderson Mill is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson Mill
- Jollyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jollyville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jollyville
- Cedar Park
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Brushy Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Brushy Creek is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek
- Leander
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Old Round Rock ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Old Round Rock is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Round Rock
- Round Rock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bear Creek, see our County-by-County Page for Bear Creek.
Cemeteries Near Bear Creek ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bear Creek.
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 Bear Creek - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bear Creek covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bear Creek, with the one closest to Bear Creek listed first.
- Johnson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oliver Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Cook Walden Forest Oaks Memorial Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Oaks Memorial Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Fitzhugh Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brown Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Chapel Hill Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Wallace Mtn. Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Antioch Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Allen Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen Cemetery
- The Allen Cemetery has also been known as:
- Allen - Good Cemetery
- Live Oak Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (169 more) ...
- Roberts Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- White Rock Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Phillips Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
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>
While we didn't find Bear Creek in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bear Creek.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bear Creek, with the one closest to Bear Creek listed first.
- Cedar Valley
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Cedar Valley is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Driftwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Hill is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Manchaca
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dripping Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Buda
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bluff Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Bluff Springs is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Springs
- Carl
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Carl is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
- Kyle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Goforth
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Goforth is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goforth
- Creedmoor
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Austin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Wimberley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Henly
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Henly is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henly
- Del Valle
(17 miles [27.4 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 Bear Creek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bear Creek.
Newspapers Published in Bear Creek ...
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 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bear Creek.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bear Creek, 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 Bear Creek.
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 Bear Creek:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Hays County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bastrop County
- Blanco County
- Burnet County
- Caldwell County
- Comal County
- Guadalupe County
- Travis County
- Williamson County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Texas
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 Bear Creek, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bear Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |