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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 Chico (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 Chico. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Chico is located in Wise 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 Wise County: Cooke, Denton, Jack, Montague, Parker & Tarrant.

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

  • Wise County     (The home county of Chico)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chico, with the one closest to Chico listed first.
    • Lake Bridgeport
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Bridgeport have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Bridgeport
      • Lake Bridgeport is located in Wise County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 405 people
    • Bridgeport
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Park Springs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Alvord
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alvord have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvord
      • Alvord is located in Wise County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,591 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alvord <2>
    • Runaway Bay
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Runaway Bay have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runaway Bay
      • Runaway Bay is located in Wise County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,627 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Runaway Bay <2>
    • Paradise
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Paradise have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
      • Paradise is located in Wise County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Paradise <2>
    • Decatur
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Boonsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Herman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Herman have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herman
      • Herman is located in Wise County
    • Greenwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Boyd
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bluett
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chico, with the one closest to Chico listed first.
    • Newport
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Bellevue
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bellevue have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
      • Bellevue is located in Clay County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bellevue <2>
    • Shannon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Joy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Cooke County
  • Denton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chico, with the one closest to Chico listed first.
    • Stony
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • DISH
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Ponder
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ponder have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponder
      • Ponder is located in Denton County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,415 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ponder <2>
  • Jack County
  • Montague County
  • Parker County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chico, with the one closest to Chico listed first.
    • Agnes
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Poolville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Poolville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poolville
      • Poolville is located in Parker County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Poolville <2>
    • Goshen
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Springtown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Whitt
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Whitt have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitt
      • Whitt is located in Parker County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Whitt <2>
    • Carter
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Reno
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reno have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
      • Reno is located in Parker County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,473 people
    • Peaster
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Sanctuary
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sanctuary have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanctuary
      • Sanctuary is located in Parker County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
    • Authon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Tarrant County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chico, with the one closest to Chico listed first.
    • Pecan Acres
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pecan Acres have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecan Acres
      • Pecan Acres is located in Tarrant County
    • Pelican Bay
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pelican Bay have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelican Bay
      • Pelican Bay is located in Tarrant County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,100 people

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

Cemeteries Near Chico ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Chico.

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

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

  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pleasant Grove Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Olive Branch Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Olive Branch Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Olive Branch Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mexican Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mexican Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mexican Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Cumber Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Cumber Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Cumber Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Oldtown Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oldtown Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oldtown Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Thomas - Norwood Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Thomas - Norwood Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Thomas - Norwood Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • McDaniel Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the McDaniel Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the McDaniel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Green Elm Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Green Elm Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Green Elm Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Morrow Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Morrow Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Morrow Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Valley View Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Valley View Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Valley View Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jonestown Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Jonestown Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Jonestown Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Briar Branch Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Briar Branch Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Briar Branch Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (111 more) ...
    • Crafton Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Crafton Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Crafton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • East Mound Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the East Mound Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the East Mound Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Hopewell Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)

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 Chico had a population of 323 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Chico had a population of 1,199 people.

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

  • Bridgeport
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Alvord
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alvord have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvord
    • Alvord is located in Wise County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,591 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alvord <2>
  • Crafton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crafton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crafton
    • Crafton is located in Wise County
  • Paradise
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Paradise have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
    • Paradise is located in Wise County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Paradise <2>
  • Sunset
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Decatur
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Vineyard
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vineyard have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineyard
    • Vineyard is located in Jack County
  • Willow Point
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Willow Point have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Point
    • Willow Point is located in Wise County
  • Boonsville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Cottondale
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cottondale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottondale
    • Cottondale is located in Wise County
  • Herman
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Herman have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herman
    • Herman is located in Wise County
  • Salona
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Newport
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Joplin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Joplin have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joplin
      • Joplin is located in Jack County
    • Bowie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bowie have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowie
      • Bowie is located in Montague County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,140 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bowie <2>

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Chico ...

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 Chico.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Chico. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Chico and those printed in the larger area surrounding Chico.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<5> of Chico.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Chico:

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

The official website for Wise County: www.co.wise.tx.us/

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>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 Chico, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Chico) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Chico. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 33.2961, Longitude: -97.7982    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025