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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 Macdona (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 Macdona. 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 and hospitals 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.

Macdona is located in Bexar 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 Bexar County: Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina & Wilson.

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

  • Bexar County     (The home county of Macdona)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macdona, with the one closest to Macdona listed first.
    • Von Ormy
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Atascosa
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lackland Heights
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Lackland City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Lackland City is located in Bexar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackland City
    • Westwood Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Westwood Village is located in Bexar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood Village
    • Bexar
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Bexar is located in Bexar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bexar
    • Somerset
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Leon Valley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Balcones Heights
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • San Antonio
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Helotes
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Olmos Park
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Olmos Park is located in Bexar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmos Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,461 people
    • Alamo Heights
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Atascosa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macdona, with the one closest to Macdona listed first.
    • Lytle
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Lytle is located in Atascosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lytle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,061 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lytle <1>
    • Rossville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Rossville is located in Atascosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossville
    • Anchorage
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Anchorage is located in Atascosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchorage
    • Iuka
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Iuka is located in Atascosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iuka
    • Espey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Espey is located in Atascosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Espey
    • Poteet
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Kyote
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Kyote is located in Atascosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kyote
    • Leming
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Amphion
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Amphion is located in Atascosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amphion
    • Verdi
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Verdi is located in Atascosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verdi
    • Crown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Crown is located in Atascosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
    • Pleasanton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Jourdanton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Bandera County
    • Bandera Falls
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Bandera Falls is located in Bandera County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bandera Falls
  • Comal County
    • Bracken
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bracken is located in Comal County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bracken
  • Frio County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macdona, with the one closest to Macdona listed first.
    • Bigfoot
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Moore
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Medina County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macdona, with the one closest to Macdona listed first.
    • LaCoste
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • LaCoste is located in Medina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaCoste
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,263 people
      • LaCoste has also been known as:
      • La Coste
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for LaCoste <1>
    • Castroville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Pearson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Pearson is located in Medina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
    • Natalia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Rio Medina
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Devine
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Mico
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Quihi
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Quihi is located in Medina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quihi
    • New Fountain
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • New Fountain is located in Medina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Fountain
    • Hondo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Yancey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Wilson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macdona, with the one closest to Macdona listed first.
    • Loire
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Loire is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loire
    • Graytown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Graytown is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graytown
    • Saspamco
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Saspamco is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saspamco
    • Canada Verde
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Canada Verde is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Verde
    • Fairview
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairview is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Calaveras
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Calaveras is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calaveras
    • Kicaster
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Kicaster is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kicaster
    • Carpenter
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Carpenter is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter

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

Cemeteries Near Macdona ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Macdona.

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

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

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

  • Hermann Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • San Isidro Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Becker Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Tripp Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Lessing Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Arnold Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Sociedad Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Black Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Ruiz Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Hernandez Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Panteon San Lorenzo Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Bexar Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (148 more) ...
    • Lytle Masonic Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Benton City Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Heickman 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>

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

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

  • Von Ormy
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Atascosa
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Bexar
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Bexar is located in Bexar County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bexar
  • Withers
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Withers is located in Bexar County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withers
  • Lytle
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lytle is located in Atascosa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lytle
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,061 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lytle <1>
  • Castroville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Noonan
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Noonan is located in Medina County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noonan
  • Earle
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Earle is located in Bexar County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earle
  • San Antonio
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Bergs Mill
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Bergs Mill is located in Bexar County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergs Mill
  • Rossville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Rossville is located in Atascosa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossville
  • Devine
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Anchorage
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Anchorage is located in Atascosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchorage
    • Robards
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Robards is located in Bexar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robards
    • Poteet
      (20 miles [32.2 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 Macdona. See our List of 1890's Communities around Macdona.

Newspapers Published in Macdona ...

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 220 newspapers that have been published in the area around Macdona.

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

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 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 Macdona:

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' (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- Macdona) 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 Macdona, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.