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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 China (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 China. 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 hospitals and 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.

China is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Chambers, Hardin, Liberty & Orange.

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

  • Jefferson County     (The home county of China)
    • The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
    • Pine Island
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Pine Island is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Island
    • Nome
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Nome is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nome
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 592 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nome <1>
    • Amelia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Amelia is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelia
    • Bevil Oaks
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Bevil Oaks is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bevil Oaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,209 people
    • Beaumont
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Voth
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Hamshire
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Higgins
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Higgins is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higgins
    • La Belle
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • La Belle is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Belle
    • Taylor Landing
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Taylor Landing is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Landing
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 237 people
    • Central Gardens
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Central Gardens is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Gardens
    • Nederland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
  • Chambers County
    • The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
    • Winnie
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Stowell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Hankamer
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Monroe City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Monroe City is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe City
    • Turtle Bayou
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Turtle Bayou is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turtle Bayou
    • Anahuac
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Wallisville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Double Bayou
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Double Bayou is located in Chambers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Bayou
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
    • Grayburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Grayburg is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayburg
    • Pinewood Estates
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Pinewood Estates is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinewood Estates
    • Sour Lake
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Loeb
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Loeb is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loeb
    • Rose Hill Acres
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Rose Hill Acres is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill Acres
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 435 people
    • Lumberton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Saratoga
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Batson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Kountze
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Silsbee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Bragg ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Bragg is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg
    • Thicket
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Jasper County
  • Liberty County
    • The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
    • Devers
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Daisetta
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Hull
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Raywood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Woodson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Woodson is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodson
    • Ames
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Ames is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ames
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,275 people
    • Hardin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Moss Bluff
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Moss Bluff is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Bluff
    • Mariam
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Mariam is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mariam
    • Liberty
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Dayton Lakes
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Dayton Lakes is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton Lakes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Kenefick
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Kenefick is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenefick
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 722 people
  • Orange County
    • The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
    • Rose City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Rose City is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 489 people
    • Vidor
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Vidor is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vidor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,310 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vidor <1>
    • Pine Forest
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine Forest is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Forest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 516 people
    • Pine Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine Grove is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
    • Terry
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Terry is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terry
    • Orangefield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Bridge City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Texla
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Texla is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Texla
    • Mauriceville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near China ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of China.

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

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

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

  • Berry Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Pivoto Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Grayburg Black Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Rosedale Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Landrum Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Freeman Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Broussard Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Hebert Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Spell Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Sahara Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Woodrow Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Loeb Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (86 more) ...
    • Hillebrandt Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Magnolia Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Anthony Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anthony Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Anthony Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Beaumont.
      • The Anthony Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Dan Gill Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2130 <2>

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 in 1895, China had railroad service and no post office. In 2020, China had a population of 1,204 people.

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

  • Pine Island
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Pine Island is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Island
  • Amelia
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Amelia is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelia
  • Sour Lake
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Felicia
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Felicia is located in Liberty County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
  • Beaumont
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Rosedale
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Rosedale is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
  • La Belle
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • La Belle is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Belle
  • Saratoga
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Nona
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Nona is located in Hardin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nona
  • Kountze
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • Turtle Bayou
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Turtle Bayou is located in Chambers County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turtle Bayou
  • Terry
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Terry is located in Orange County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terry
  • Continue List   (7 more) ...
    • Ames
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Ames is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ames
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,275 people
    • Moss Bluff
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Moss Bluff is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Bluff
    • Anahuac
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in China ...

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 62 newspapers that have been published in the area around China.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of China, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for China.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 China:

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 China, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- China) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.