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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 Irene (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 Irene. 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 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.

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

  • Hill County     (The home county of Irene)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irene, with the one closest to Irene listed first.
    • Mertens
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Malone
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Brandon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Bynum
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Penelope
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Hubbard
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Carl's Corner
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Carl's Corner is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl's Corner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
    • Abbott
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Chatt
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Chatt is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatt
    • Hillsboro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Lovelace
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lovelace is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovelace
    • Mount Calm
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Ellis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irene, with the one closest to Irene listed first.
    • Milford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Italy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Avalon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Forreston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Nash
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Nash is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
    • Howard
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Howard is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard
    • Bardwell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Boz
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Boz is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boz
    • Maypearl
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Auburn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Auburn is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
    • Boyce
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Boyce is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyce
    • Alma
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Alma is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
  • Freestone County
    • Wortham
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irene, with the one closest to Irene listed first.
    • Grandview
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Parker
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Parker is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
  • Limestone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irene, with the one closest to Irene listed first.
    • Delia ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Delia is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delia
    • Coolidge
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Prairie Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Watt
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Watt is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watt
    • Tehuacana
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Frosa
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Frosa is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frosa
    • Kirk
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Kirk is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirk
  • McLennan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irene, with the one closest to Irene listed first.
    • Tours
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Tours is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tours
    • West
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • 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 <1>
    • Leroy
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Axtell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Ross
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Ross is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ross <1>
    • Elm Mott
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Elk
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Elk is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk
    • Northcrest
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Northcrest is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northcrest
    • Hallsburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Hallsburg is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 454 people
    • Gholson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Gholson is located in McLennan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gholson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,127 people
    • Lacy - Lakeview
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bellmead
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Navarro County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Irene, with the one closest to Irene listed first.
    • Frost
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Spring Hill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Spring Hill is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
    • Dresden
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Dresden is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresden
    • Navarro Mills
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Navarro Mills is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navarro Mills
    • Blooming Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Dawson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Silver City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Silver City is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
    • Purdon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Barry
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Cryer Creek ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Cryer Creek is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cryer Creek
    • Pursley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Pursley is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pursley
    • Emhouse
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Emhouse is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emhouse
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people

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

Cemeteries Near Irene ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Irene.

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

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

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

  • Graham Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Union Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Walling Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Richland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Pelham Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Burross Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Old Brandon Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Brandon Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Lawrence Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Pevehouse Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pevehouse Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Pevehouse Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<3> to the southeast of Frost.
    • The Pevehouse Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Crossroads Cemetery
    • New Pevehouse Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #5967 <2>
  • Continue List   (152 more) ...
    • Frost Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Blanton Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Cottonwood Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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>

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

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

  • Mertens
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Emmett
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Emmett is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmett
  • Brandon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Bynum
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Frost
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Hubbard
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Spring Hill
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Spring Hill is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
  • Milford
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Dawson
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Dresden
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Dresden is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresden
  • Blooming Grove
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Abbott
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Italy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Purdon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Barry
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Irene ...

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 83 newspapers that have been published in the area around Irene.

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

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 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 Irene:

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 from Point A (ie- Irene) 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 Irene, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.