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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 Files Valley (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 Files Valley. 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.

Name Variations for Files Valley ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

  • A typical abbreviation for Files Valley: Files Vly. (or less commonly used: Files Vally. or Files Vlly.)
  • While the name of this community is Files Valley, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Files Valley may originally have been File's Valley.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Files Valley might be written as File Valley.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 and doctors 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.

Files Valley 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 Files Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Files Valley:

  • Hill County     (The home county of Files Valley)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Files Valley, with the one closest to Files Valley listed first.
    • Itasca
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Carl's Corner
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Carl's Corner is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl's Corner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
    • Lovelace
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Lovelace is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovelace
    • Covington
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Brandon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Hillsboro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Mertens
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Bynum
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Peoria
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Peoria is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
    • Chatt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Chatt is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatt
    • Irene
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Blum
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Huron ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Huron is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
  • Bosque County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Files Valley, with the one closest to Files Valley listed first.
    • Kimball
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Kimball is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
    • Kopperl
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Lakeside Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Lakeside Village is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside Village
    • Laguna Park
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Files Valley, with the one closest to Files Valley listed first.
    • Ovilla
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Cedar Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Glenn Heights
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Shamrock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Shamrock is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shamrock
    • DeSoto
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Lancaster
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Ellis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Files Valley, with the one closest to Files Valley listed first.
    • Auburn
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Auburn is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
    • Maypearl
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Boz
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Boz is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boz
    • Milford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Italy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Forreston
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Venus
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Nash
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Nash is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
    • Avalon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Sardis
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Sardis is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
    • Howard
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Howard is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard
    • Midlothian
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Waxahachie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Files Valley, with the one closest to Files Valley listed first.
    • Grandview
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Cuba
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Cuba is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
    • Parker
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Parker is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
    • Alvarado
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Coyote Flats
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Coyote Flats is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyote Flats
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 368 people
    • Rio Vista
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Keene
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • 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 <2>
    • Lillian
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Cleburne
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Egan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Egan is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
    • Briaroaks
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Briaroaks is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briaroaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
    • Cross Timber
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Cross Timber is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Timber
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
    • Joshua
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
  • McLennan County
    • West
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • 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 <2>
  • Navarro County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Files Valley, with the one closest to Files Valley listed first.
    • Frost
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Blooming Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Cryer Creek ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Cryer Creek is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cryer Creek
    • Dresden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Dresden is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresden
    • Barry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Emhouse
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Emhouse is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emhouse
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
    • Navarro Mills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Navarro Mills is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navarro Mills
    • Spring Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Spring Hill is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
    • Silver City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Silver City is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
  • Tarrant County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Files Valley, with the one closest to Files Valley listed first.
    • Retta
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Retta is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retta
    • Rendon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Rendon is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rendon
    • Oak Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Kennedale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Everman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Files Valley ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Files Valley.

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 Files Valley - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Files Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Berrys Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Turner Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Bee Creek Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Odom Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Auburn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Jackson Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Grandview Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Eureka Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Ozro Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Oakland Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Barnesville Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (157 more) ...
    • Greathouse Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Antioch Rest Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Boatright Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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.<5>

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

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

  • Auburn
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Auburn is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
  • Itasca
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Grandview
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Osceola
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Osceola is located in Hill County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
  • Milford
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Boz
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Boz is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boz
  • Covington
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Italy
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Cuba
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Cuba is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
  • Brandon
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Mountain Peak
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Mountain Peak is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Peak
  • Derden
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Derden is located in Hill County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derden
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Woodbury
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodbury is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
    • Alvarado
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Venus
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Files Valley ...

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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around Files Valley.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Files Valley, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Files Valley.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Files Valley:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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- Files Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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>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 Files Valley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.