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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 Derden (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 Derden. 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 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.

Derden is located in Hill 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 Hill County: Bosque, Ellis, Johnson, Limestone, McLennan & Navarro.

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

  • Hill County     (The home county of Derden)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Derden, with the one closest to Derden listed first.
    • Covington
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Blum
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Itasca
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Huron ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Huron is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
    • Lovelace
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Lovelace is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovelace
    • Peoria
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Peoria is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
    • Whitney
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Hillsboro
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Carl's Corner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Carl's Corner is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl's Corner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
    • Chatt
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Chatt is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatt
    • Aquilla
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Brandon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
  • Bosque County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Derden, with the one closest to Derden listed first.
    • Kimball
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Kimball is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
    • Kopperl
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Lakeside Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Lakeside Village is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside Village
    • Morgan
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Eulogy
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Eulogy is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulogy
    • Laguna Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Womack
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Womack is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womack
    • Meridian
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Walnut Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Greenock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Greenock is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenock
    • Cayote
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Cayote is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayote
  • Ellis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Derden, with the one closest to Derden listed first.
    • Auburn
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Auburn is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
    • Maypearl
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Venus
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Milford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Boz
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Boz is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boz
    • Italy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Forreston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Mansfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Midlothian
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Britton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Britton is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Britton
    • Nash
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Nash is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
    • Sardis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Sardis is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
  • Hood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Derden, with the one closest to Derden listed first.
    • Fort Spunky
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort Spunky is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Spunky
    • Pecan Plantation
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Pecan Plantation is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecan Plantation
    • Acton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • DeCordova
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • DeCordova is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeCordova
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,108 people
    • Cresson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Derden, with the one closest to Derden listed first.
    • Rio Vista
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Parker
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Parker is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
    • Cuba
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Cuba is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
    • Grandview
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Cleburne
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Coyote Flats
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Coyote Flats is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyote Flats
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 368 people
    • Keene
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Keene is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keene
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,588 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Keene <1>
    • Bono
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Bono is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bono
    • Alvarado
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Egan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Egan is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
    • Joshua
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Briaroaks
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Briaroaks is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briaroaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
  • McLennan County
    • West
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • West is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,969 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for West <1>
  • Somervell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Derden, with the one closest to Derden listed first.
    • Nemo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Rainbow
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Glen Rose
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Glass
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Glass is located in Somervell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass
  • Tarrant County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Derden, with the one closest to Derden listed first.
    • Retta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Retta is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retta
    • Oak Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Oak Grove is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Rendon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Rendon is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rendon
    • Everman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Primrose
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Primrose is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
    • Saint Francis Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Derden ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Derden.

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

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

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

  • Ross Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Live Oak Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Hart Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Kinard Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Parker Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Grange Hall Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Morrow Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Faulkenbury Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Pleasant View Memorial Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Boatright Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Oakland Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Dodson Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (126 more) ...

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, Derden had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Blum
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Covington
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Rio Vista
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Blanton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Blanton is located in Hill County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanton
  • Osceola
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Osceola is located in Hill County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
  • Cuba
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Cuba is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
  • Kimball
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Kimball is located in Bosque County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
  • Woodbury
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodbury is located in Hill County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
  • Itasca
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Grandview
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Cleburne
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Kopperl
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Freeland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Freeland is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeland
    • Bono
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Bono is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bono
    • Peoria
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Peoria is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria

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

Newspapers Published in Derden ...

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 95 newspapers that have been published in the area around Derden.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Derden, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Derden.

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 websites either 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 Derden:

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 Derden, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Derden) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.