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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 Blum (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 Blum. 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 southeast 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 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.

Blum is located in Hill 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 Hill County: Bosque, Ellis, Johnson, Limestone, McLennan & Navarro.

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

  • Hill County     (The home county of Blum)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blum, with the one closest to Blum listed first.
    • Huron ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Huron is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
    • Covington
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Whitney
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Itasca
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Peoria
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Peoria is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
    • Lovelace
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Lovelace is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovelace
    • Hillsboro
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Carl's Corner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Carl's Corner is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl's Corner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
    • Aquilla
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Chatt
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Chatt is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatt
    • Abbott
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bynum
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Bosque County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blum, with the one closest to Blum listed first.
    • Kimball
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Kimball is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
    • Kopperl
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Lakeside Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Lakeside Village is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside Village
    • Morgan
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Eulogy
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Eulogy is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulogy
    • Laguna Park
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Meridian
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Womack
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Womack is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womack
    • Walnut Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Cayote
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Cayote is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayote
    • Greenock
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Greenock is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenock
    • Clifton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Ellis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blum, with the one closest to Blum listed first.
    • Auburn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Auburn is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
    • Maypearl
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Milford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Venus
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Italy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Boz
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Boz is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boz
  • Erath County
    • Chalk Mountain
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Chalk Mountain is located in Erath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Mountain
  • Hood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blum, with the one closest to Blum listed first.
    • Fort Spunky
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort Spunky is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Spunky
    • Pecan Plantation
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Pecan Plantation is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecan Plantation
    • DeCordova
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • DeCordova is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeCordova
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,108 people
    • Acton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hill City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hill City is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill City
    • Cresson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Granbury
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blum, with the one closest to Blum listed first.
    • Rio Vista
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Parker
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Parker is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
    • Cleburne
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Cuba
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cuba is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
    • Bono
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Bono is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bono
    • Coyote Flats
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Coyote Flats is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyote Flats
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 368 people
    • Grandview
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Keene
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Keene is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keene
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,588 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Keene <1>
    • Alvarado
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Egan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Egan is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
    • Godley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Joshua
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • McLennan County
    • West
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • West is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,969 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for West <1>
  • Somervell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blum, with the one closest to Blum listed first.
    • Nemo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Rainbow
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Glen Rose
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Glass
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Glass is located in Somervell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass
  • Tarrant County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blum, with the one closest to Blum listed first.
    • Retta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Retta is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retta
    • Oak Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Oak Grove is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove

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

Cemeteries Near Blum ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blum.

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

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

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

  • Live Oak Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Dodson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Grange Hall Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Heath Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Pleasant View Memorial Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Ross Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Kyle Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Kopperl Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Hart Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Steiner Valley Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Ft. Graham Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Kinard Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (113 more) ...

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Blum had a population of 315 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Blum had a population of 476 people.

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

  • Derden
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Derden is located in Hill County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derden
  • Kimball
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Kimball is located in Bosque County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
  • Blanton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Blanton is located in Hill County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanton
  • Rio Vista
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Kopperl
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Covington
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Osceola
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Osceola is located in Hill County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
  • Freeland
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Freeland is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeland
  • Woodbury
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodbury is located in Hill County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
  • Whitney
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Brazos Point
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Brazos Point is located in Bosque County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazos Point
  • Bono
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Bono is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bono
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Itasca
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Cuba
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cuba is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
    • Cleburne
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Blum ...

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 114 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blum.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Blum. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Blum and those printed in the larger area surrounding Blum.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Blum.

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 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 Blum:

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