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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 Dresden (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 Dresden. 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.

Dresden is located in Navarro County.

To see how the shape of Texas' counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Navarro County: Anderson, Ellis, Freestone, Henderson, Hill & Limestone.

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

  • Navarro County     (The home county of Dresden)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dresden, with the one closest to Dresden listed first.
    • Blooming Grove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blooming Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blooming Grove
      • Blooming Grove is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 831 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Blooming Grove <2>
    • Silver City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Silver City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
      • Silver City is located in Navarro County
    • Barry
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Navarro Mills
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Cryer Creek ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Spring Hill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Purdon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Frost
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Valley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oak Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Valley
      • Oak Valley is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
    • Dawson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dawson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson
      • Dawson is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 798 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dawson <2>
    • Emhouse
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Emhouse have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emhouse
      • Emhouse is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
    • Retreat
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Retreat have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retreat
      • Retreat is located in Navarro County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 384 people
    • Pursley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pursley. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pursley
      • Pursley is located in Navarro County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Pursley
      • From Dresden to Pursley
  • Ellis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dresden, with the one closest to Dresden listed first.
    • Avalon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Avalon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
      • Avalon is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avalon <2>
    • Bardwell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bardwell have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bardwell
      • Bardwell is located in Ellis County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 709 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bardwell <2>
    • Italy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Italy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italy
      • Italy is located in Ellis County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,964 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Italy <2>
    • Milford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Nash
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Howard
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Alma
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alma have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Alma is located in Ellis County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
    • Forreston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Ennis
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Garrett
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Garrett have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
      • Garrett is located in Ellis County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 891 people
    • Boyce
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Boz
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Telico
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
  • Freestone County
  • Hill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dresden, with the one closest to Dresden listed first.
    • Irene
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Irene have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
      • Irene is located in Hill County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Irene <2>
    • Mertens
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Hubbard
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hubbard have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubbard
      • Hubbard is located in Hill County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,418 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hubbard <2>
    • Malone
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Malone have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malone
      • Malone is located in Hill County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Malone <2>
    • Brandon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brandon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
      • Brandon is located in Hill County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brandon <2>
    • Penelope
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Bynum
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bynum have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bynum
      • Bynum is located in Hill County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bynum <2>
    • Mount Calm
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mount Calm have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Calm
      • Mount Calm is located in Hill County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 340 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mount Calm <2>
    • Carl's Corner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Carl's Corner have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl's Corner
      • Carl's Corner is located in Hill County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
    • Chatt
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Abbott
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Hillsboro
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Lovelace
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Kaufman County
  • Limestone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dresden, with the one closest to Dresden listed first.
    • Coolidge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coolidge have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coolidge
      • Coolidge is located in Limestone County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 950 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Coolidge <2>
    • Tehuacana
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Delia ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Delia. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delia
      • Delia is located in Limestone County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Delia
      • From Dresden to Delia
    • Prairie Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Prairie Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Hill
      • Prairie Hill is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Prairie Hill <2>
    • Mexia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Frosa
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Watt
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • McLennan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dresden, with the one closest to Dresden listed first.
    • Leroy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Leroy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
      • Leroy is located in McLennan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leroy <2>
    • Tours
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • West
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West
      • West is located in McLennan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,969 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for West <2>
    • Axtell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Dresden ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dresden.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Dresden had a population of 151 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Blooming Grove
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blooming Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blooming Grove
    • Blooming Grove is located in Navarro County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 831 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Blooming Grove <2>
  • Drane
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Drane have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drane
    • Drane is located in Navarro County
  • Barry
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Spring Hill
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Purdon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Cryer Creek ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Emmett
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Emmett have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmett
    • Emmett is located in Navarro County
  • Frost
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Dawson
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dawson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson
    • Dawson is located in Navarro County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 798 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dawson <2>
  • Irene
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Irene have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
    • Irene is located in Hill County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Irene <2>
  • Pursley
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pursley. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pursley
    • Pursley is located in Navarro County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Pursley
    • From Dresden to Pursley
  • Mertens
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Avalon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Avalon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
      • Avalon is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avalon <2>
    • Corsicana
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Hubbard
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hubbard have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubbard
      • Hubbard is located in Hill County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,418 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hubbard <2>

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

Newspapers Published in Dresden ...

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 96 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dresden.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dresden, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dresden.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Dresden:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Dresden. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Texas: https://texas.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Dresden) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Dresden. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 32.0308, Longitude: -96.6810    
<6>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 Dresden, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025