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 Blackjack (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 Blackjack. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.
Blackjack is located in Smith 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 Smith County: Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Upshur, Van Zandt & Wood.
Below are the counties that are near Blackjack. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blackjack:
- Smith County (The home county of Blackjack)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackjack, with the one closest to Blackjack listed first.
- Whitehouse
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Omen
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Omen is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omen
- Sinclair City
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sinclair City is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinclair City
- New Chapel Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- New Chapel Hill is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Chapel Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 667 people
- Arp
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Flint
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Gresham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Gresham is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Wright City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Wright City is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright City
- Lee Spring
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lee Spring is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Spring
- Tyler
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Browning
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Browning is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
- Jamestown ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jamestown is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Jamestown has also been known as:
- Jimtown
- Noonday
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Noonday is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noonday
- Population from the 2020 Census: 722 people
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackjack, with the one closest to Blackjack listed first.
- Frankston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Todd City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Todd City is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todd City
- Fosterville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fosterville is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fosterville
- Neches
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pert
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pert is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pert
- Brushy Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Brushy Creek is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackjack, with the one closest to Blackjack listed first.
- Troup
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mixon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mixon is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixon
- Bullard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gould
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Gould is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Henrys Chapel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Henrys Chapel is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrys Chapel
- Blackjack
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Blackjack is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackjack
- Mount Selman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Selman is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Selman
- Griffin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Griffin is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- Larissa ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Larissa is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larissa
- New Summerfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Jacksonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cherokee Landing
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cherokee Landing is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Landing
- Reese
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Reese is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reese
- Gregg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackjack, with the one closest to Blackjack listed first.
- Kilgore
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty City is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
- Danville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Danville is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Rolling Meadows
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rolling Meadows is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolling Meadows
- Fredonia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fredonia is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Gladewater
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Clarksville City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Clarksville City is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 945 people
- Warren City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Warren City is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- Elderville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elderville is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elderville
- White Oak
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greggton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Greggton is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greggton
- Lakeport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackjack, with the one closest to Blackjack listed first.
- Berryville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Berryville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,066 people
- Chandler
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Coffee City
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Coffee City is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
- Moore Station
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Moore Station is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 223 people
- Poynor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Brownsboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Leagueville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Leagueville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leagueville
- LaRue
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Nacogdoches County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackjack, with the one closest to Blackjack listed first.
- Dextra
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dextra is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dextra
- Sacul
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rusk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackjack, with the one closest to Blackjack listed first.
- Selman City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Overton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Turnertown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Turnertown is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnertown
- Price
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- New London
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Sexton City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sexton City is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton City
- Big Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Big Springs is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Friars
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Friars is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friars
- Joinerville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Jacobs
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Jacobs is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacobs
- Laird Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Pirtle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Pirtle is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pirtle
- Henderson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackjack, with the one closest to Blackjack listed first.
- Big Sandy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Wilkins
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Wilkins is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkins
- Center Point
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Center Point is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Union Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
- Van Zandt County
- Edom
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wood County
- Hawkins
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blackjack, see our County-by-County Page for Blackjack.
Cemeteries Near Blackjack ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blackjack.
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 Blackjack - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blackjack covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blackjack, with the one closest to Blackjack listed first.
- New Canaan Cemetery (African-American)
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Smith Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Whitehouse Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rucker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- New Hope (Southeast) Cemetery (African-American)
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- McDonald Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Rucker Cemetery (African-American)
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pinecrest Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Elkins Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkins Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Elkins Cemetery is located outside and to the east of Omen.
- Bradford Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (296 more) ...
- Troup City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty Cemetery (African-American)
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Green Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 Blackjack in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Blackjack.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Blackjack, with the one closest to Blackjack listed first.
- Omen
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Omen is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omen
- Troup
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mixon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mixon is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixon
- Bullard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Flint
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Mount Selman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Selman is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Selman
- Overton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Tyler
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Larissa ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Larissa is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larissa
- Griffin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Griffin is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- Browning
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Browning is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
- Jacksonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Berryville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Berryville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,066 people
- Starrville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Starrville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starrville
- Chandler
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blackjack. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blackjack.
Newspapers Published in Blackjack ...
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 73 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blackjack.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blackjack, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Blackjack.
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 Blackjack:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Smith County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Cherokee County
- Gregg County
- Henderson County
- Nacogdoches County
- Rusk County
- Upshur County
- Van Zandt County
- Wood 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 Blackjack, 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- Blackjack) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |