RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Texas >> Rusk County >> Craig >> 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 Craig (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 Craig. 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 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.

Craig is located in Rusk 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 Rusk County: Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Nacogdoches, Panola, Shelby & Smith.

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

  • Rusk County     (The home county of Craig)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Craig, with the one closest to Craig listed first.
    • Jacobs
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Jacobs is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacobs
    • Monroe
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Monroe is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
    • Pirtle
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Pirtle is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pirtle
    • Henderson
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Friars
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Friars is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friars
    • New London
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Sexton City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Sexton City is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton City
    • Laird Hill
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Joinerville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Selman City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Turnertown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Turnertown is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnertown
    • Overton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Craig, with the one closest to Craig listed first.
    • Henrys Chapel
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Henrys Chapel is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrys Chapel
    • Troup
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Troup is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troup
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,064 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Troup <1>
    • Griffin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Griffin is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
    • Blackjack
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Blackjack is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackjack
    • Gould
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Gould is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
    • Mixon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Mixon is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixon
    • New Summerfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ponta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Ponta is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponta
    • Reklaw
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Gregg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Craig, with the one closest to Craig listed first.
    • Elderville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Elderville is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elderville
    • Danville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Danville is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
    • Fredonia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Fredonia is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
    • Lakeport
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Rolling Meadows
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Rolling Meadows is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolling Meadows
    • Kilgore
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Easton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Liberty City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Liberty City is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
    • Greggton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Greggton is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greggton
    • Longview
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Clarksville City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Clarksville City is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 945 people
    • Teneryville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Teneryville is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teneryville
  • Harrison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Craig, with the one closest to Craig listed first.
    • Lansing
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Lansing is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing
    • Hallsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Noonday
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Noonday is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noonday
    • Morton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Morton is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton
    • Nesbitt
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Nesbitt is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nesbitt
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 281 people
    • Harleton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Panola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Craig, with the one closest to Craig listed first.
    • Beckville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Center Point ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Center Point is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
    • Long Branch
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Delray
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Delray is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delray
    • Clayton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Dotson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Dotson is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotson
    • Buncome
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Buncome is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buncome
    • Carthage
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Murvaul
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Murvaul is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murvaul
    • Gary City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Smith County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Craig, with the one closest to Craig listed first.
    • Wright City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Wright City is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright City
    • Jamestown ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Jamestown is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
      • Jamestown has also been known as:
      • Jimtown
    • Arp
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Arp is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arp
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,046 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Arp <1>
    • Sinclair City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Sinclair City is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinclair City
    • Browning
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Browning is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
    • Omen
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Omen is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omen
    • New Chapel Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • New Chapel Hill is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Chapel Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 667 people
    • Starrville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Starrville is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starrville
    • Whitehouse
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Winona
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Tyler
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Tyler is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyler
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 108,222 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tyler <1>
  • Upshur County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Craig, with the one closest to Craig listed first.
    • Union Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Union Grove is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
    • Wilkins
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Wilkins is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkins
    • Glenwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Glenwood is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
    • Center Point
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Center Point is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
    • James
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • James is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
    • Big Sandy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Diana
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Pritchett
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Pritchett is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pritchett

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

Cemeteries Near Craig ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Craig.

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

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

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

  • Crims Chapel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • New Hope Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Vernon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Oak Hill UMC Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Harmony Pirtle Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Lakewood Memorial Park
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Oberthier Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Wright Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Thomas Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Old City Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Chapman Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Turner Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (277 more) ...
    • Wasson Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Mt. Hope Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Craig Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)

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 Craig in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Craig.

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

  • Monroe
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Monroe is located in Rusk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
  • Pirtle
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Pirtle is located in Rusk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pirtle
  • Henderson
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Elderville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Elderville is located in Gregg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elderville
  • Kilgore
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Overton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Easton
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Pinehill
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Pinehill is located in Rusk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehill
  • Tatum
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Fair Play
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Fair Play is located in Panola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Play
  • Longview
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
  • Minden
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Long Branch
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Beckville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Lansing
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Lansing is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing

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

Newspapers Published in Craig ...

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 52 newspapers that have been published in the area around Craig.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Craig, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Craig.

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 Craig:

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 drawn from Point A (ie- Craig) 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 Craig, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.