RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Texas >> Kaufman County >> Cottonwood >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Cottonwood (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 Cottonwood. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Cottonwood is located in Kaufman 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 Kaufman County: Dallas, Ellis, Henderson, Hunt, Rockwall & Van Zandt.

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

  • Kaufman County     (The home county of Cottonwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
    • Grays Prairie
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Grays Prairie is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grays Prairie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 388 people
    • Scurry
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Rosser
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Oak Grove
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Oak Grove is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 704 people
    • Stubbs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Stubbs is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stubbs
    • Styx
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Styx is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Styx
    • Kemp
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Kemp is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,251 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kemp <1>
    • Kaufman
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Becker
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Becker is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Becker
    • Crandall
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Lone Star
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Lone Star is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
    • Tolosa
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Tolosa is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolosa
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
    • Combine
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Combine is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Combine
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,537 people
    • Seagoville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Ferris
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Lawson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Lawson is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawson
    • Kleberg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Kleberg is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kleberg
    • Wilmer
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Balch Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Hutchins
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mesquite
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Sunnyvale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Lancaster
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • New Hope
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • New Hope is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
  • Ellis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
    • Telico
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Telico is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Telico
    • Bristol
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Bristol is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
    • Walnut Springs
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Walnut Springs is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Springs
    • Crisp
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Crisp is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crisp
    • Alma
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Alma is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
    • Ennis
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Garrett
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Garrett is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 891 people
    • Palmer
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Boyce
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Boyce is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyce
    • Bardwell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Ike
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Ike is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ike
    • Pecan Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Pecan Hill is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecan Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 714 people
  • Henderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
    • Seven Points
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Gun Barrel City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Tool
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Tool is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tool
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,335 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tool <1>
    • Payne Springs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Payne Springs is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 756 people
    • Enchanted Oaks
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Enchanted Oaks is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enchanted Oaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
    • Eustace
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Caney City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Caney City is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 223 people
    • Log Cabin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Log Cabin is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log Cabin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 785 people
    • Star Harbor
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Star Harbor is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Harbor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
    • Trinidad
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Malakoff
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Navarro County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
    • Chatfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Rice
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Rice is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 983 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rice <1>
    • Tupelo
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Tupelo is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tupelo
    • Bazette
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Bazette is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bazette
    • Roane
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Roane is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roane
    • Emhouse
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Emhouse is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emhouse
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
    • Powell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Powell is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
    • Kerens
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Corsicana
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Goodlow
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Goodlow is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodlow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
      • Goodlow has also been known as:
      • Goodlow Park
    • Elm Flat
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Elm Flat is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Flat
    • Cryer Creek ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Cryer Creek is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cryer Creek
  • Rockwall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
    • McLendon - Chisholm
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • McLendon - Chisholm is located in Rockwall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLendon - Chisholm
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,815 people
    • Blackland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Blackland is located in Rockwall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackland
  • Van Zandt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
    • Wills Point
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Myrtle Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Myrtle Springs is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Springs
    • Tundra
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Tundra is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tundra

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

Cemeteries Near Cottonwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cottonwood.

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

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

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

  • Cottonwood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Grays Prairie Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Green Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Rosser Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Rosser Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Mt. Olive Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Shiloh Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Union Hill Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Hefley Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Berry Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Guthrie Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (165 more) ...
    • Ware Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Kaufman Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Walnut Springs Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)

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>

While we didn't find Cottonwood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Cottonwood.

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

  • Scurry
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Stubbs
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Stubbs is located in Kaufman County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stubbs
  • Kemp
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Kemp is located in Kaufman County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,251 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kemp <1>
  • Kaufman
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Bristol
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Bristol is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
  • Crandall
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Tolosa
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Tolosa is located in Kaufman County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolosa
  • Seagoville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Alma
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Alma is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
  • Chatfield
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
  • Ennis
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Rice
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Rice is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 983 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rice <1>
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Prairieville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Prairieville is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Abner
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Abner is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abner
    • Ferris
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Cottonwood ...

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 89 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cottonwood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cottonwood, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cottonwood.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Cottonwood:

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>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- Cottonwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Cottonwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.