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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 Hortense (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 Hortense. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Hortense is located in Polk 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 Polk County: Angelina, Hardin, Liberty, San Jacinto, Trinity & Tyler.

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

  • Polk County     (The home county of Hortense)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hortense, with the one closest to Hortense listed first.
    • Barnes
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Barnes is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
    • Lily Island
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Lily Island is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily Island
    • Camden
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Barnum
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Barnum is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnum
    • Moscow
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Seven Oaks
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Seven Oaks is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Oaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
    • Leggett
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Indian Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Indian Springs is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs
    • New Willard
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • New Willard is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Willard
    • Corrigan
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Skinner Town
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Skinner Town is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinner Town
    • Dallardsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
  • Angelina County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hortense, with the one closest to Hortense listed first.
    • Prairie Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Prairie Grove is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Grove
    • Manning ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Manning is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manning
    • Martin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Martin is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
    • Beulah
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Beulah is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
    • Shady Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Shady Grove is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
    • Dolan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Dolan is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolan
    • Diboll
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Rutland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Rutland is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutland
    • Nancy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Nancy is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nancy
    • Burke
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Burke is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burke
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 727 people
    • Bald Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Bald Hill is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bald Hill
    • Zavalla
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hortense, with the one closest to Hortense listed first.
    • Votaw
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Bragg ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Bragg is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg
    • Village Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Liberty County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hortense, with the one closest to Hortense listed first.
    • Big Thicket Creekmore Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Fuqua ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Fuqua is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuqua
    • Rye
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Romayor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Africa ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Africa is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
  • San Jacinto County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hortense, with the one closest to Hortense listed first.
    • Coldspring
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Shepherd
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Point Blank
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Trinity County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hortense, with the one closest to Hortense listed first.
    • Woodlake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodlake is located in Trinity County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlake
    • Sumpter ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Sumpter is located in Trinity County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumpter
    • Groveton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Helmic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Helmic is located in Trinity County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helmic
    • Lacy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Lacy is located in Trinity County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacy
      • Lacy has also been known as:
      • Lacey
    • Carlisle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Carlisle is located in Trinity County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
    • Apple Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Chita
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Chita is located in Trinity County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chita
  • Tyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hortense, with the one closest to Hortense listed first.
    • Chester
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Peach Tree Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Peach Tree Village is located in Tyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peach Tree Village
    • Doucette
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Colmesneil
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Woodville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Ivanhoe North
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Ivanhoe North is located in Tyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe North
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 538 people
    • Ivanhoe
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Ivanhoe is located in Tyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,438 people
    • Hillister
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Warren
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Hortense ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hortense.

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

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

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

  • Parrish Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Feagin Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Beard Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Lily Island Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Pine Ridge Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Davis Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Nowlin Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Whitehead Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Pullen Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Rice Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Darden Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • George Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (124 more) ...
    • Oaks Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Hubert Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Mahaffey Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)

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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Hortense had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Barnum
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Barnum is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnum
  • Chester
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Moscow
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Seven Oaks
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Seven Oaks is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Oaks
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
  • Leggett
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Corrigan
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Asia
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Asia is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asia
  • Dallardsville
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
  • Livingston
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Woodville
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
  • Colmesneil
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
  • Carmona
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Carmona is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmona
  • Continue List   (10 more) ...
    • Colita
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Colita is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colita
    • Goodrich
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Hillister
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Hortense ...

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 39 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hortense.

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Hortense:

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>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 Hortense, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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- Hortense) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.