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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 Downs (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 Downs. 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.

Downs is located in McLennan 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 McLennan County: Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Hill & Limestone.

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

  • McLennan County     (The home county of Downs)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Downsville
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Downsville is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downsville
    • Robinson
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Rosenthal
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Rosenthal is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosenthal
    • Harrison
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Harrison is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
    • Beverly Hills
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Beverly Hills is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,980 people
    • East Waco
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • East Waco is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Waco
    • Waco
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Waco is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 141,377 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waco <1>
    • Hewitt
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Hewitt is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hewitt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,113 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hewitt <1>
    • Riesel
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Lorena
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Lorena is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorena
    • Bellmead
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Woodway
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Battle
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Battle is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle
  • Bell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Troy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Oenaville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Oenaville is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oenaville
    • Pendleton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Ocker
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Ocker is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocker
    • Cyclone
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Cyclone is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cyclone
    • Moffat
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Moffat is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moffat
    • Temple
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Morgan's Point Resort
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Bosque County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Greenock
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Greenock is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenock
    • Valley Mills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Coryell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • McGregor
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Oglesby
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Lime City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Lime City is located in Coryell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime City
    • The Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • The Grove is located in Coryell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Grove
  • Falls County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Golinda
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Golinda is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golinda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 610 people
    • North Prairie
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • North Prairie is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Prairie
    • Satin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Perry
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Chilton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Mooreville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Mooreville is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooreville
    • Marlin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Bruceville - Eddy
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bruceville - Eddy is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruceville - Eddy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,704 people
    • Otto
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • McClanahan
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • McClanahan is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClanahan
    • Durango
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Durango is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durango
    • Lott
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Blevins
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Blevins is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blevins
  • Hill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Mount Calm
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Tyson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Tyson is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyson
    • Aquilla
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Abbott
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Penelope
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Limestone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Downs, with the one closest to Downs listed first.
    • Watt
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Watt is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watt
    • Ben Hur
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Ben Hur is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ben Hur
    • Prairie Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Kirk
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Kirk is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirk
    • Delia ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Delia is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delia
    • Frosa
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Frosa is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frosa
    • Kosse
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Kosse is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kosse
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kosse <1>
    • Thornton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Milam County
  • Robertson County
    • Bremond
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Downs ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Downs.

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

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

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

  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Mt. Olive Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Fletcher Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Christian Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Robinson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Pauls Memorial Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Rosemound Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Restland Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Sunset Community Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Rosemound Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Jacob - Sholom Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Santa Cruz Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (192 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, Downs had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Downsville
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Downsville is located in McLennan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downsville
  • Robinson
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Rosenthal
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Rosenthal is located in McLennan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosenthal
  • Golinda
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Golinda is located in Falls County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golinda
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 610 people
  • Harrison
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Harrison is located in McLennan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
  • East Waco
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • East Waco is located in McLennan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Waco
  • Waco
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Waco is located in McLennan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waco
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 141,377 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waco <1>
  • Hewitt
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Hewitt is located in McLennan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hewitt
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,113 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hewitt <1>
  • Riesel
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Perry
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Ritchie
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Ritchie is located in McLennan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritchie
  • Mooreville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Mooreville is located in Falls County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooreville
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Chilton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Battle
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Battle is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle
    • South Bosque
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • South Bosque is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bosque

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

Newspapers Published in Downs ...

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 43 newspapers that have been published in the area around Downs.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Downs, 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 Downs.

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 Downs:

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 Downs, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Downs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.