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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 Huntsville (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 Huntsville. 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.

Huntsville is located in Walker County and is the County Seat.

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 Walker County: Grimes, Houston, Madison, Montgomery, San Jacinto & Trinity.

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

  • Walker County     (The home county of Huntsville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Huntsville, with the one closest to Huntsville listed first.
    • Dodge
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dodge have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge
      • Dodge is located in Walker County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dodge <2>
    • Elmina
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Riverside
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Riverside have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
      • Riverside is located in Walker County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 547 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Riverside <2>
    • Goshen ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Goshen have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
      • Goshen is located in Walker County
    • New Waverly
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for New Waverly have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Waverly
      • New Waverly is located in Walker County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,073 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for New Waverly <2>
    • Wesley Grove
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Kittrell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
  • Grimes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Huntsville, with the one closest to Huntsville listed first.
    • Richards
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Richards have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richards
      • Richards is located in Grimes County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Richards <2>
    • Shiro
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Bedias
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Roans Prairie
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Roans Prairie have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roans Prairie
      • Roans Prairie is located in Grimes County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roans Prairie <2>
    • Apolonia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Apolonia. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apolonia
      • Apolonia is located in Grimes County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Apolonia
      • From Huntsville to Apolonia
    • Anderson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Anderson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
      • Anderson is located in Grimes County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Anderson <2>
  • Houston County
    • Lovelady
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lovelady have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovelady
      • Lovelady is located in Houston County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 623 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lovelady <2>
  • Madison County
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Huntsville, with the one closest to Huntsville listed first.
    • Danville ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Danville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
      • Danville is located in Montgomery County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Danville
      • From Huntsville to Danville
    • Willis
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Panorama Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Panorama Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Village
      • Panorama Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,446 people
    • Dacus
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Montgomery
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Montgomery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
      • Montgomery is located in Montgomery County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,639 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Montgomery <2>
    • Dobbin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Conroe
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Cut and Shoot
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Polk County
    • Onalaska
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Onalaska have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onalaska
      • Onalaska is located in Polk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,167 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Onalaska <2>
  • San Jacinto County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Huntsville, with the one closest to Huntsville listed first.
    • Oakhurst
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oakhurst have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakhurst
      • Oakhurst is located in San Jacinto County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oakhurst <2>
    • Point Blank
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Laurel Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Evergreen
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Coldspring
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coldspring have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldspring
      • Coldspring is located in San Jacinto County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 950 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Coldspring <2>
    • Magnolia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Magnolia have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
      • Magnolia is located in San Jacinto County
  • Trinity County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Huntsville, with the one closest to Huntsville listed first.
    • Trinity
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Mill Town
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mill Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Town
      • Mill Town is located in Trinity County
    • Chita
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Glendale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Huntsville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Huntsville.

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 Huntsville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oakwood Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oakwood Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Sam Houston Grave
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sam Houston Grave
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sam Houston Grave have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • South Side Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Prison Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Prison Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Prison Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • North Side Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the North Side Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the North Side Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hume Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hume Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hume Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Grant Colony Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Grant Colony Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Grant Colony Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Harper Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Harper Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Harper Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Allen Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Allen Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Allen Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hightower Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hightower Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hightower Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Martha Chapel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Martha Chapel Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Martha Chapel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Holloway Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Holloway Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Holloway Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (139 more) ...
    • Ebenezer Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Blackjack Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Blackjack Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Blackjack Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Cline Prairie Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Cline Prairie Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Cline Prairie Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Huntsville had a population of 1,509 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Huntsville had a population of 41,392 people.

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

  • Phelps
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Phelps have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelps
    • Phelps is located in Walker County
  • Bath
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bath have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath
    • Bath is located in Walker County
  • Dodge
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dodge have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge
    • Dodge is located in Walker County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dodge <2>
  • Riverside
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Riverside have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
    • Riverside is located in Walker County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 547 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Riverside <2>
  • New Waverly
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for New Waverly have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Waverly
    • New Waverly is located in Walker County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,073 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for New Waverly <2>
  • Trinity
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
  • Maynard
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Maynard have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maynard
    • Maynard is located in San Jacinto County
  • Willis
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
  • Point Blank
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
  • Evergreen
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Connor
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Connor have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Connor
    • Connor is located in Madison County
  • Dacus
    (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (12 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Huntsville ...

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 60 newspapers that have been published in the area around Huntsville.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Huntsville. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Huntsville and those printed in the larger area surrounding Huntsville.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5> of Huntsville.

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 Huntsville:

The official website for Huntsville: www.ci.huntsville.tx.us/

The official website for Walker County: www.co.walker.tx.us/

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>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 Huntsville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Huntsville) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Huntsville. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 30.7203, Longitude: -95.5514    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025