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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 Big 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 Big 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 Big 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.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

Another variation: Bigcreek.

  • A typical abbreviation for Big Creek: Big Crk. (or less commonly used: Big Ck. or Big Cr.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Big Creek. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Big 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

Big Creek is located in Burleson 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 Burleson County: Brazos, Lee, Milam, Robertson & Washington.

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

  • Burleson County     (The home county of Big Creek)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
    • Lyons
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Somerville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Birch
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Birch is located in Burleson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birch
    • Frenstat
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Frenstat is located in Burleson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenstat
    • Scofield ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Scofield is located in Burleson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scofield
    • Merle ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Merle is located in Burleson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merle
    • Deanville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Snook
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • San Antonio Prairie
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • San Antonio Prairie is located in Burleson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Antonio Prairie
    • Tunis
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Tunis is located in Burleson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunis
    • Caldwell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Clay
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Cooks Point
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Cooks Point is located in Burleson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Point
  • Austin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
    • Shelby
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Shelby is located in Austin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
    • New Wehdem
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • New Wehdem is located in Austin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Wehdem
    • Bleiblerville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Industry
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Kenney
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Sempronius ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Sempronius is located in Austin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sempronius
  • Brazos County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
    • Stone City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Stone City is located in Brazos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone City
    • Allen Farm
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Allen Farm is located in Brazos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen Farm
    • Wellborn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Millican
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • College Station
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Bryan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
    • Rye ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Rye is located in Brazos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rye
    • Boonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Boonville is located in Brazos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boonville
    • Navasota
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Colorado County
    • Pisek ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Pisek is located in Colorado County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisek
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
    • Carmine
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ledbetter
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Round Top
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Haw Creek ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Haw Creek is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haw Creek
    • Warrenton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Walhalla
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Walhalla is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walhalla
    • Nechanitz
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Nechanitz is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nechanitz
    • Roznov
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Roznov is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roznov
    • Warda
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Rutersville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Rutersville is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutersville
    • Fayetteville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
    • Dime Box
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Old Dime Box
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Old Dime Box is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Dime Box
    • Loebau
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Loebau is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loebau
    • Lincoln
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Giddings
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Tanglewood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Tanglewood is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewood
    • Lexington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Hicks
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Hicks is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks
    • Fedor
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Fedor is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fedor
    • Serbin ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Serbin is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Serbin
  • Milam County
    • Milano
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Robertson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
    • Mumford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Benchley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Benchley is located in Robertson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benchley
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
    • Quarry
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Quarry is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarry
    • Rehburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Rehburg is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehburg
    • Gay Hill
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Gay Hill is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay Hill
    • Burton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • La Bahia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • La Bahia is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Bahia
    • Independence
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Greenvine
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Greenvine is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenvine
    • Brenham
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Brenham is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brenham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,736 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brenham <1>
    • Wesley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Wesley is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
    • Whitman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Whitman is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitman
    • Chappell Hill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Washington ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Graball ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Graball is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graball

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

Cemeteries Near Big Creek ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big 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 Big Creek - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Schoppe Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Mexican Cemetery Association
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Oaklawn Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Sweet Homes Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Homes Cemetery
    • The Sweet Homes Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Birch Creek Cemetery
    • Sweet Home Church Cemetery
    • Sweethome Baptist Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2515600 <2>
  • Lyons Coummunity Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Evangelical UCC Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Somerville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Flat Prairie Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • High Prairie Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Pillow Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (233 more) ...
    • Christian Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Birch Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery
      • The St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Rehburg Cemetery
      • Rehburg Church Cemetery

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

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

  • Lyons
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Somerville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Quarry
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Quarry is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarry
  • Frenstat
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Frenstat is located in Burleson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenstat
  • Gay Hill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Gay Hill is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gay Hill
  • Davidson
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Davidson is located in Burleson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davidson
  • Burton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Merle ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Merle is located in Burleson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merle
  • Deanville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • La Bahia
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • La Bahia is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Bahia
  • Dime Box
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Mill Creek
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Mill Creek is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Caldwell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Independence
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Tunis
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Tunis is located in Burleson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunis

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

Newspapers Published in Big 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 80 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Creek.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Creek, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Big Creek.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Big Creek:

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 Big 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Big Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.