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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 Blue Springs (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 Blue Springs. 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 Blue Springs ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Blue Springs: Blue Spgs. (or less commonly used: Blue Spngs. or Blue Sprngs.)

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

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 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.

Blue Springs is located in San Augustine 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 San Augustine County: Angelina, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Sabine & Shelby.

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

  • San Augustine County     (The home county of Blue Springs)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Springs, with the one closest to Blue Springs listed first.
    • White City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • White City is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Rebecca
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Rebecca is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rebecca
    • Powell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Powell is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
    • Maxey Town
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Maxey Town is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxey Town
    • Broaddus
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Zana ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Zana is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zana
    • San Augustine
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Denning
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Denning is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
  • Angelina County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Springs, with the one closest to Blue Springs listed first.
    • Parker Point
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Parker Point is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Point
    • Ora
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Ora is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
    • Boynton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Boynton is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Zavalla
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Dolan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Dolan is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolan
    • Nancy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Nancy is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nancy
    • Martin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Martin is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
    • Ewing
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Ewing is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewing
    • Oak Flat
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Oak Flat is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Flat
    • Thomas Crossing
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Thomas Crossing is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Crossing
    • Manning ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Manning is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manning
    • Alco
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Alco is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alco
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Springs, with the one closest to Blue Springs listed first.
    • Browndell
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Browndell is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browndell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
    • Harveytown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Harveytown is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harveytown
    • Sam Rayburn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Jasper
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Beech Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Beech Grove is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Grove
  • Nacogdoches County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Springs, with the one closest to Blue Springs listed first.
    • Chireno
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Etoile
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Attoyac
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Attoyac is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attoyac
  • Newton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Springs, with the one closest to Blue Springs listed first.
    • Wiergate
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • South Toledo Bend
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • South Toledo Bend is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Toledo Bend
    • Toledo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Toledo is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toledo
    • Burkeville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Shanklerville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Shanklerville is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanklerville
  • Sabine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Springs, with the one closest to Blue Springs listed first.
    • Bronson
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Pineland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Brookeland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Rosevine
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rosevine is located in Sabine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosevine
    • Hemphill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Geneva
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Milam
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Mason
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Mason is located in Sabine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
    • Fairmount
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Fairmount is located in Sabine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
  • Shelby County
    • Choice
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Choice is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choice
  • Sabine Parish (LA)
    • Rock ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Rock is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock

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

Cemeteries Near Blue Springs ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blue Springs.

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 Blue Springs - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Wood Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Bobbitt Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • McClelland Family Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Lakey Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Hines Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Blackland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Beauchamp Family Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Parker Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Martin Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Whitton Family Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Old Centerview Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Centerview Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (280 more) ...
    • McBride Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Crooker Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Miller Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)

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

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

  • Brookeland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Macune
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Macune is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macune
  • Zana ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Zana is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zana
  • Hemphill
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
  • Geneva
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Milam
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
  • San Augustine
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
  • Denning
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Denning is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
  • Fairmount
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Fairmount is located in Sabine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
  • Ora
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Ora is located in Angelina County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
  • Sexton
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Sexton is located in Sabine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton
  • Chireno
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (9 more) ...
    • Etoile
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Jasper
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Patroon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Patroon is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patroon

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

Newspapers Published in Blue Springs ...

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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blue Springs.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blue Springs, 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 Blue Springs.

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 Blue Springs:

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 Blue Springs, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Blue Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.