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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 Blanco (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 Blanco. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.

Blanco is located in Blanco 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 Blanco County: Burnet, Comal, Gillespie, Hays, Kendall, Llano & Travis.

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

  • Blanco County     (The home county of Blanco)
  • Bexar County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blanco, with the one closest to Blanco listed first.
    • Timberwood Park
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Fair Oaks Ranch
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fair Oaks Ranch have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Oaks Ranch
      • Fair Oaks Ranch is located in Bexar County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,345 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fair Oaks Ranch <2>
    • Scenic Oaks
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Scenic Oaks have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scenic Oaks
      • Scenic Oaks is located in Bexar County
  • Burnet County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blanco, with the one closest to Blanco listed first.
    • Shovel Mountain
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shovel Mountain have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shovel Mountain
      • Shovel Mountain is located in Burnet County
    • Horseshoe Bay
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Spicewood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Spicewood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spicewood
      • Spicewood is located in Burnet County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spicewood <2>
  • Comal County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blanco, with the one closest to Blanco listed first.
    • Fischer
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fischer have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fischer
      • Fischer is located in Comal County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fischer <2>
    • Spring Branch
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Spring Branch have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Branch
      • Spring Branch is located in Comal County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spring Branch <2>
    • Cranes Mill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cranes Mill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranes Mill
      • Cranes Mill is located in Comal County
    • Canyon Lake
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Canyon Springs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Canyon Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon Springs
      • Canyon Springs is located in Comal County
    • Westhaven
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Westhaven have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westhaven
      • Westhaven is located in Comal County
    • Canyon Lake Forest
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Canyon Lake Forest have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon Lake Forest
      • Canyon Lake Forest is located in Comal County
    • Startzville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Startzville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Startzville
      • Startzville is located in Comal County
    • Honey Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Honey Creek. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
      • Honey Creek is located in Comal County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Honey Creek
      • From Blanco to Honey Creek
    • Smithson Valley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Smithson Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithson Valley
      • Smithson Valley is located in Comal County
    • Canyon City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Anhalt
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Anhalt. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anhalt
      • Anhalt is located in Comal County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Anhalt
      • From Blanco to Anhalt
  • Gillespie County
  • Hays County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blanco, with the one closest to Blanco listed first.
    • Henly
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Henly. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henly
      • Henly is located in Hays County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Henly
      • From Blanco to Henly
    • Pleasant Valley Crossing
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pleasant Valley Crossing have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley Crossing
      • Pleasant Valley Crossing is located in Hays County
    • Mount Gainor
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Woodcreek
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Dripping Springs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Pioneer Town
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Wimberley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Cloptins Crossing
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cloptins Crossing have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloptins Crossing
      • Cloptins Crossing is located in Hays County
    • Driftwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Fitzhugh
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Bear Creek
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bear Creek have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
      • Bear Creek is located in Hays County
      • Estimated population in 2017: 445 people
  • Kendall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blanco, with the one closest to Blanco listed first.
    • Kendalia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Sisterdale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Ammans Crossing ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ammans Crossing have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ammans Crossing
      • Ammans Crossing is located in Kendall County
    • Bergheim
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bergheim have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergheim
      • Bergheim is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bergheim <2>
    • Kreutzberg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Bankersmith
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bankersmith have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bankersmith
      • Bankersmith is located in Kendall County
    • Waring
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Welfare
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Nelson City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nelson City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson City
      • Nelson City is located in Kendall County
    • Boerne
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Comfort
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Comfort have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comfort
      • Comfort is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Comfort <2>
  • Travis County

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

Cemeteries Near Blanco ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blanco.

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 Blanco covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

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 Blanco had a population of 269 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Blanco had a population of 2,156 people.

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

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Blanco ...

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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blanco.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Blanco. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Blanco and those printed in the larger area surrounding Blanco.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6> of Blanco.

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 Blanco:

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

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

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<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 Blanco, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Blanco) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Blanco. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 30.1006, Longitude: -98.4211    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025