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 Hays (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 Hays. 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 doctors 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.
Hays is located in Hays 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 Hays County: Blanco, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe & Travis.
Below are the counties that are near Hays. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hays:
- Hays County (The home county of Hays)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Flatrock Ford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Flatrock Ford is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatrock Ford
- Buda
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bear Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bear Creek is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Estimated population in 2017: 445 people
- Mountain City
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mountain City is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 858 people
- Kyle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Goforth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Goforth is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goforth
- Driftwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Fitzhugh
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fitzhugh is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzhugh
- Dripping Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Woodcreek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Woodcreek is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodcreek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,758 people
- Mount Gainor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Gainor is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gainor
- San Marcos
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pioneer Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pioneer Town is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Town
- Bastrop County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Mustang Ridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mustang Ridge is located in Bastrop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mustang Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,001 people
- Cedar Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Wyldwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Wyldwood is located in Bastrop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyldwood
- Bateman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bateman is located in Bastrop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bateman
- Red Rock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Blanco County
- Cypress Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Burnet County
- Spicewood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Niederwald
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Niederwald is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niederwald
- Population from the 2020 Census: 576 people
- Uhland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Uhland is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uhland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,355 people
- Mendoza
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mendoza is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendoza
- Reedville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Reedville is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedville
- Maxwell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Lytton Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lytton Springs is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lytton Springs
- Martindale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Lockhart
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Johns Colony
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Johns Colony is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns Colony
- Dale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fentress
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Joliet
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Joliet is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joliet
- Mineral Springs ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mineral Springs is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Comal County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Royal Forest
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Royal Forest is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Forest
- Hunter
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hunter is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Canyon City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Canyon City is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon City
- Fischer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fourth Crossing
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fourth Crossing is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fourth Crossing
- Sattler
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sattler is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sattler
- Third Crossing
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Third Crossing is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Third Crossing
- Canyon Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cranes Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cranes Mill is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranes Mill
- Canyon Lake Forest
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Canyon Lake Forest is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon Lake Forest
- First Crossing
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- First Crossing is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for First Crossing
- Gruene
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Second Crossing
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Second Crossing is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Second Crossing
- Guadalupe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Redwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Redwood is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Staples
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Zorn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Zorn is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zorn
- Galle
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Galle is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galle
- Weinert
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Weinert is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weinert
- Barbarosa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Barbarosa is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barbarosa
- Travis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Manchaca
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Shady Hollow
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Shady Hollow is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Hollow
- San Leanna
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- San Leanna is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Leanna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 507 people
- Tanglewood Forest
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Tanglewood Forest is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewood Forest
- Onion Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Onion Creek is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onion Creek
- Carl
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Carl is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
- Creedmoor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Sunset Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pilot Knob
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Pilot Knob is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Knob
- Barton Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Barton Creek is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton Creek
- Rollingwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rollingwood is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollingwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,571 people
- Lost Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Lost Creek is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
- Austin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Jollyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Jollyville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jollyville
- Anderson Mill
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Anderson Mill is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson Mill
- Cedar Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Brushy Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Brushy Creek is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek
- Old Round Rock ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Old Round Rock is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Round Rock
- Round Rock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Leander
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hays, see our County-by-County Page for Hays.
Cemeteries Near Hays ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hays.
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 Hays - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hays covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Antioch Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Allen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen Cemetery
- The Allen Cemetery has also been known as:
- Allen - Good Cemetery
- Live Oak Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Brown Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Chapel Hill Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Barton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Johnson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Carl Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Cook Walden Forest Oaks Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Forest Oaks Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Martin Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (185 more) ...
- Oliver Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Williamson Creek Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- San Vincente Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Hays in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Hays.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hays, with the one closest to Hays listed first.
- Manchaca
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Buda
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bluff Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bluff Springs is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Springs
- Creedmoor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Carl
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Carl is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
- Oak Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Kyle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Goforth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Goforth is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goforth
- Cedar Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Valley is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Driftwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Austin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dripping Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Del Valle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wimberley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- San Marcos
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hays. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hays.
Newspapers Published in Hays ...
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 73 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hays.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hays, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hays.
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 helpful 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 Hays:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Hays County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bastrop County
- Blanco County
- Burnet County
- Caldwell County
- Comal County
- Guadalupe County
- Travis County
- Williamson County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Texas
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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Hays) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Hays, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |