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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 Hill (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 Hill. 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 Hill ...

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.

Another variation: Bighill.

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

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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.

Big Hill is located in Limestone 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 Limestone County: Falls, Freestone, Hill, Leon, McLennan, Navarro & Robertson.

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

  • Limestone County     (The home county of Big Hill)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Hill, with the one closest to Big Hill listed first.
    • Ben Hur
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Ben Hur is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ben Hur
    • Thornton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Kirk
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Kirk is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirk
    • Groesbeck
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Frosa
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Frosa is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frosa
    • Kosse
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Kosse is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kosse
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kosse <1>
    • Prairie Hill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Watt
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Watt is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watt
    • Lost Prairie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Lost Prairie is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Prairie
    • Delia ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Delia is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delia
    • Fallon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Fallon is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallon
    • Mexia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Mexia is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mexia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,287 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mexia <1>
    • Coolidge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
  • Falls County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Hill, with the one closest to Big Hill listed first.
    • Otto
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Stranger
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Stranger is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stranger
    • McClanahan
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • McClanahan is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClanahan
    • Perry
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Marlin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Reagan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Highbank
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Highbank is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highbank
    • Satin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Golinda
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Golinda is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golinda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 610 people
    • North Prairie
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • North Prairie is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Prairie
    • Chilton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Lott
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Wilderville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Wilderville is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilderville
  • Freestone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Hill, with the one closest to Big Hill listed first.
    • Cotton Gin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Freestone
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Freestone is located in Freestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freestone
    • Teague
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Teague is located in Freestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,526 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Teague <1>
    • Wortham
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Donie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Kirvin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Hill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Hill, with the one closest to Big Hill listed first.
    • Mount Calm
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Hubbard
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Penelope
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Leon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Hill, with the one closest to Big Hill listed first.
    • Marquez
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Newby
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Newby is located in Leon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newby
  • McLennan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Hill, with the one closest to Big Hill listed first.
    • Mart
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Mart is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mart
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,983 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mart <1>
    • Battle
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Battle is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle
    • Riesel
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Hallsburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Hallsburg is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 454 people
    • Elk
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Elk is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk
    • Harrison
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Harrison is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
    • Axtell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Downsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Downsville is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downsville
    • East Waco
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • East Waco is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Waco
    • Robinson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Rosenthal
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Rosenthal is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosenthal
    • Bellmead
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Lacy - Lakeview
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Milam County
    • Baileyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Baileyville is located in Milam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileyville
  • Navarro County
    • Dawson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Robertson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Hill, with the one closest to Big Hill listed first.
    • Bremond
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Seale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Seale is located in Robertson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seale
    • Bald Prairie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bald Prairie is located in Robertson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bald Prairie
    • Hammond
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Hammond is located in Robertson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
    • Owensville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Owensville is located in Robertson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owensville
    • Ridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Ridge is located in Robertson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge

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

Cemeteries Near Big Hill ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Hill.

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

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

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

  • Tidwell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Clifton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Erskine Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Gunter Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Metina Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Nus Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Horn Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Oklahoma Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Hope Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Cobb Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Garrett Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (205 more) ...
    • Carroll Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Phifer Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Pippin Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)

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>

While we didn't find Big Hill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Big Hill.

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

  • Thornton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Horn Hill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Horn Hill is located in Limestone County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horn Hill
  • Kirk
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Kirk is located in Limestone County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirk
  • Groesbeck
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Stranger
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Stranger is located in Falls County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stranger
  • Mart
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Mart is located in McLennan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mart
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,983 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mart <1>
  • McClanahan
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • McClanahan is located in Falls County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClanahan
  • Kosse
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Kosse is located in Limestone County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kosse
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kosse <1>
  • Frosa
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Frosa is located in Limestone County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frosa
  • Battle
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Battle is located in McLennan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle
  • Perry
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Prairie Hill
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Riesel
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Prairie Grove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Prairie Grove is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Grove
    • Marlin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Big Hill ...

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 129 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Hill.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Hill, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Big Hill.

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 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 Big Hill:

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 Big Hill, 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' (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- Big Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.