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 Mars (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 Mars. 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.
Mars is located in Van Zandt 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 Van Zandt County: Henderson, Hunt, Kaufman, Rains, Smith & Wood.
Below are the counties that are near Mars. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mars:
- Van Zandt County (The home county of Mars)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars, with the one closest to Mars listed first.
- Edom
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ben Wheeler
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Tundra
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tundra is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tundra
- Van
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Van is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,778 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Van <1>
- Canton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Grand Saline
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Myrtle Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Myrtle Springs is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Springs
- Fruitvale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Edgewood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Wills Point
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars, with the one closest to Mars listed first.
- Fosterville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Fosterville is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fosterville
- Frankston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bradford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bradford is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Springfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Springfield is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Bois d'Arc
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Bois d'Arc is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bois d'Arc
- Brushy Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Brushy Creek is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek
- Blackfoot
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Blackfoot is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackfoot
- Elmwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Elmwood is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars, with the one closest to Mars listed first.
- Cherokee Landing
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cherokee Landing is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Landing
- Bullard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cuney
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Reese
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Reese is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reese
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars, with the one closest to Mars listed first.
- Murchison
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Brownsboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Leagueville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Leagueville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leagueville
- Athens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Chandler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Moore Station
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Moore Station is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 223 people
- Pine Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pine Grove is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
- LaRue
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Eustace
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Log Cabin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Log Cabin is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log Cabin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 785 people
- Coffee City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Coffee City is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
- Caney City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Caney City is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 223 people
- Kaufman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars, with the one closest to Mars listed first.
- Mabank
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Prairieville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Prairieville is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Becker
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Becker is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Becker
- Kemp
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Ola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ola is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ola
- Tolosa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Tolosa is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolosa
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars, with the one closest to Mars listed first.
- Carroll
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Carroll is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
- Garden Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Garden Valley is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Valley
- Jamestown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jamestown is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Hideaway
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Hideaway is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hideaway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,208 people
- Noonday
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Noonday is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noonday
- Population from the 2020 Census: 722 people
- Lindale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Swan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Swan is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Dogwood City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dogwood City is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood City
- Gresham
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Gresham is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Lee Spring
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Lee Spring is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Spring
- Teaselville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Teaselville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaselville
- Flint
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars, with the one closest to Mars listed first.
- Mineola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Golden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Alba
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mars, see our County-by-County Page for Mars.
Cemeteries Near Mars ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mars.
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 Mars - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mars covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mars, with the one closest to Mars listed first.
- Lewis Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Asberry Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Liberty Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ray Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Wreary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Red Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cox Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Edom Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Blackjack Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Prairie Springs Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Springs Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Prairie Springs Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 10 miles [16.1 km]<3> to the southeast of Canton.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #6161 <2>
- Rounsavall Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Echols Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echols Cemetery
- The Echols Cemetery has also been known as:
- Jennings Mtn. Cemetery
- Continue List (197 more) ...
- Brownsboro Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Old Norwegian Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Chinquapin Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
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 Mars in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Mars.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mars, with the one closest to Mars listed first.
- Martins Mill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Martins Mill is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martins Mill
- Murchison
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Edom
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ben Wheeler
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Brownsboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Walton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Walton is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walton
- Colfax
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Colfax is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colfax
- Athens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- New York
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- New York is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New York
- Chandler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Carroll
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Carroll is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
- Jackson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Jackson is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Canton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Garden Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Garden Valley is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Valley
- Pruitt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Pruitt is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruitt
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mars. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mars.
Newspapers Published in Mars ...
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 52 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mars.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mars, 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 Mars.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Mars:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Van Zandt County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Cherokee County
- Henderson County
- Kaufman County
- Smith County
- Wood 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Mars) 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 Mars, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |