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 Centralia (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 Centralia. 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 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.
Centralia is located in Trinity 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 Trinity County: Angelina, Cherokee, Houston, Polk, San Jacinto & Walker.
Below are the counties that are near Centralia. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Centralia:
- Trinity County (The home county of Centralia)
- The following are listed by their distance from Centralia, with the one closest to Centralia listed first.
- Center Point ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Center Point is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Apple Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Helmic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Helmic is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helmic
- Lacy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Lacy is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacy
- Lacy has also been known as:
- Lacey
- Pennington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Groveton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Sumpter ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Sumpter is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumpter
- Woodlake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Woodlake is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlake
- Friday
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Friday is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friday
- Glendale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Glendale is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Chita
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Chita is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chita
- Carlisle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Carlisle is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- Mill Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mill Town is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Town
- Anderson County
- Mound City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mound City is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
- Angelina County
- The following are listed by their distance from Centralia, with the one closest to Centralia listed first.
- Blix
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Blix is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blix
- Granville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Granville is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Redtown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Redtown is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redtown
- Peavy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Peavy is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peavy
- Hudson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Hudson is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,288 people
- Providence
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Providence is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Rutland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Rutland is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutland
- Burke
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Burke is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burke
- Population from the 2020 Census: 727 people
- Diboll
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Durant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Durant is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durant
- Pollok
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Woodlawn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Woodlawn is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
- Central
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Central is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Centralia, with the one closest to Centralia listed first.
- Wells
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Forest
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Forest is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest
- Weeping Mary
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Weeping Mary is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeping Mary
- Alto
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Houston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Centralia, with the one closest to Centralia listed first.
- Hagerville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hagerville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagerville
- Fog Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fog Town is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fog Town
- Ratcliff
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Kennard
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Harrison Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Harrison Town is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison Town
- Tadmor
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tadmor is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tadmor
- Hickory Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Hickory Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Creek
- Belott
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Belott is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belott
- Holly
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Holly is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly
- Bluff City ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bluff City is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Weches
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Weches is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weches
- Crockett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Lovelady
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Nacogdoches County
- The following are listed by their distance from Centralia, with the one closest to Centralia listed first.
- Alazan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Alazan is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alazan
- Douglass
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Centralia, with the one closest to Centralia listed first.
- Skinner Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Skinner Town is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinner Town
- Corrigan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Moscow
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bold Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Bold Springs is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bold Springs
- Camden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Seven Oaks
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Seven Oaks is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Oaks
- Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
- Barnum
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Barnum is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnum
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Centralia, see our County-by-County Page for Centralia.
Cemeteries Near Centralia ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Centralia.
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 Centralia - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Centralia covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Centralia, with the one closest to Centralia listed first.
- Tullos Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Calvary Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- McLain Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Burke Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Moore Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Moore Cemetery is located 11 miles [17.7 km]<2> to the north of Groveton.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #5317 <3>
- Rice Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Bennett Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ivie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivie Cemetery
- The Ivie Cemetery has also been known as:
- Ivy Cemetery
- Helton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Enon Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Creasy Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (190 more) ...
- Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Pisgah Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Luce Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Centralia had a population of 118 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Centralia, with the one closest to Centralia listed first.
- Apple Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hagerville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hagerville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagerville
- Ratcliff
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pennington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Groveton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Tadmor
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tadmor is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tadmor
- Josserand
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Josserand is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Josserand
- Burke
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Burke is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burke
- Population from the 2020 Census: 727 people
- Pollok
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wells
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Clawson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clawson is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clawson
- Forest
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Forest is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Keltys
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Keltys is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keltys
- Holly
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Holly is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly
- Carmona
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Carmona is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmona
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Centralia. See our List of 1890's Communities around Centralia.
Newspapers Published in Centralia ...
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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Centralia.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Centralia, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Centralia.
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 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 Centralia:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Trinity County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Angelina County
- Cherokee County
- Houston County
- Nacogdoches County
- Polk 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> | 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- Centralia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Centralia, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |