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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 Happy Hill (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 Happy Hill. 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 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.

Happy Hill is located in Johnson 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 Johnson County: Bosque, Ellis, Hill, Hood, Parker, Somervell & Tarrant.

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

  • Johnson County     (The home county of Happy Hill)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Hill, with the one closest to Happy Hill listed first.
    • Lillian
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Egan
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Egan is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
    • Briaroaks
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Briaroaks is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briaroaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
    • Alvarado
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Cross Timber
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Cross Timber is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Timber
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
    • Burleson
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Keene
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Coyote Flats
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Coyote Flats is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyote Flats
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 368 people
    • Joshua
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Crowley
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Cuba
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Cuba is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
    • Cleburne
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Grandview
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • Bosque County
    • Kimball
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Kimball is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Hill, with the one closest to Happy Hill listed first.
    • Cedar Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Ovilla
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Glenn Heights
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Duncanville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Shamrock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Shamrock is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shamrock
    • DeSoto
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Grand Prairie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Lancaster
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Cockrell Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Jim Town ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Jim Town is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jim Town
      • Jim Town has also been known as:
      • Jimtown
    • Jimtown Junction ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Jimtown Junction is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown Junction
      • Jimtown Junction has also been known as:
      • Jim Town Junction
    • Oak Cliff
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Oak Cliff is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Cliff
    • Sowers ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Sowers is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sowers
  • Ellis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Hill, with the one closest to Happy Hill listed first.
    • Venus
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Mansfield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Britton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Britton is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Britton
    • Midlothian
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Auburn
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Auburn is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
    • Maypearl
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sardis
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Sardis is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
    • Boz
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Boz is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boz
    • Oak Leaf
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Oak Leaf is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Leaf
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
    • Sterrett
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Sterrett is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterrett
    • Waxahachie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Red Oak
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Forreston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Hill, with the one closest to Happy Hill listed first.
    • Covington
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Itasca
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Blum
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Lovelace
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Lovelace is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovelace
    • Carl's Corner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Carl's Corner is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl's Corner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
    • Huron ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Huron is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
  • Hood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Hill, with the one closest to Happy Hill listed first.
    • Cresson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Fort Spunky
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Fort Spunky is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Spunky
    • Acton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • DeCordova
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • DeCordova is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeCordova
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,108 people
    • Pecan Plantation
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Pecan Plantation is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecan Plantation
    • Brazos Bend
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Brazos Bend is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazos Bend
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
  • Parker County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Hill, with the one closest to Happy Hill listed first.
    • Aledo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Annetta South
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Annetta South is located in Parker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annetta South
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 579 people
    • Annetta North
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Annetta North is located in Parker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annetta North
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
    • Annetta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Annetta is located in Parker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annetta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,319 people
  • Somervell County
    • Nemo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Tarrant County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Happy Hill, with the one closest to Happy Hill listed first.
    • Retta
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Retta is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retta
    • Rendon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Rendon is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rendon
    • Oak Grove
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Everman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Kennedale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Forest Hill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Edgecliff Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Edgecliff Village is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgecliff Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,012 people
    • Primrose
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Primrose is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
    • Wedgewood East
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Wedgewood East is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wedgewood East
    • Dalworthington Gardens
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Johnsons Station
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Johnsons Station is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsons Station
    • Saint Francis Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Pantego
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Happy Hill ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Happy Hill.

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 Happy Hill - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Cahill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Glenwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Balch Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Marystown Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Keene Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Buel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Duke Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Burleson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Burleson Memorial Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Prairie Springs Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Old Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Center League Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (152 more) ...
    • Oak Grove Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Skyvue Memorial Gardens
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Walnut Creek Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)

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>

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

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

  • Pleasant Point
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Pleasant Point is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Point
  • Egan
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Egan is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
  • Alvarado
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Marystown
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Marystown is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marystown
  • Rendon
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Rendon is located in Tarrant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rendon
  • Burleson
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Oak Grove
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Grove is located in Tarrant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
  • Venus
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Mansfield
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Joshua
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Cuba
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Cuba is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
  • Crowley
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Cleburne
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Kennedale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Mountain Peak
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Mountain Peak is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Peak

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

Newspapers Published in Happy Hill ...

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 167 newspapers that have been published in the area around Happy Hill.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Happy Hill, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Happy Hill.

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 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 Happy Hill:

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