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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 Murchison (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 Murchison. 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 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.

Murchison is located in Henderson 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 Henderson County: Anderson, Ellis, Kaufman, Navarro, Smith & Van Zandt.

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

  • Henderson County     (The home county of Murchison)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murchison, with the one closest to Murchison listed first.
    • Leagueville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Leagueville is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leagueville
    • Athens
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Athens is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,770 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Athens <1>
    • Brownsboro
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Pine Grove
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Pine Grove is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
    • LaRue
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Moore Station
      (12 miles [19.3 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
    • Eustace
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Log Cabin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Log Cabin is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log Cabin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 785 people
    • Chandler
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Poynor
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Malakoff
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Caney City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Caney City is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 223 people
  • Anderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murchison, with the one closest to Murchison listed first.
    • Bradford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Bradford is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
    • Springfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Springfield is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
    • Fosterville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Fosterville is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fosterville
    • Bois d'Arc
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Bois d'Arc is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bois d'Arc
    • Frankston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Blackfoot
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Blackfoot is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackfoot
    • Brushy Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Brushy Creek is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek
    • Elmwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Elmwood is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
    • Ward
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Ward is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
    • Cayuga
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bethel
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Bethel is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
    • Elmtown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Elmtown is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmtown
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murchison, with the one closest to Murchison listed first.
    • Cherokee Landing
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Cherokee Landing is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Landing
    • Cuney
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bullard
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Reese
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Reese is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reese
    • Larissa ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Larissa is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larissa
  • Kaufman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murchison, with the one closest to Murchison listed first.
    • Mabank
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Prairieville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Prairieville is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Kemp
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Kemp is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,251 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kemp <1>
    • Tolosa
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Tolosa is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolosa
    • Becker
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Becker is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Becker
  • Navarro County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murchison, with the one closest to Murchison listed first.
    • Goodlow
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Goodlow is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodlow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
      • Goodlow has also been known as:
      • Goodlow Park
    • Kerens
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Bazette
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Bazette is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bazette
  • Smith County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murchison, with the one closest to Murchison listed first.
    • Carroll
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Carroll is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Dogwood City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Dogwood City is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood City
    • Noonday
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Noonday is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noonday
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 722 people
    • Garden Valley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Garden Valley is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Valley
    • Lee Spring
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Lee Spring is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Spring
    • Hideaway
      (22 miles [35.4 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
    • Teaselville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Teaselville is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaselville
    • Gresham
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Gresham is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
    • Jamestown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Jamestown is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
    • Flint
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Lindale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Swan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Swan is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
  • Van Zandt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murchison, with the one closest to Murchison listed first.
    • Edom
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Edom is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 387 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Edom <1>
    • Ben Wheeler
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Tundra
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Tundra is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tundra
    • Van
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • 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
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Canton is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,941 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Canton <1>
    • Myrtle Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Myrtle Springs is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Springs
    • Grand Saline
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Fruitvale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Edgewood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Murchison ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Murchison.

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

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

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

  • Rounsavall Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Blackjack Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Red Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Shelby Chapel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby Chapel Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Shelby Chapel Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the northeast of Athens.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #169375 <3>
  • Ray Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Wreary Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Liberty Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Barker Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Leagueville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Lewis Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Athens Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Alligator Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (199 more) ...
    • Echols Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echols Cemetery
      • The Echols Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Jennings Mtn. Cemetery
    • Asberry Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Sand Flat Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Murchison had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Murchison had a population of 610 people.

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

  • Athens
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Athens is located in Henderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,770 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Athens <1>
  • Walton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Walton is located in Van Zandt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walton
  • New York
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • New York is located in Henderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New York
  • Brownsboro
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Martins Mill
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Martins Mill is located in Van Zandt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martins Mill
  • Pine Grove
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Pine Grove is located in Henderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
  • Edom
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Edom is located in Van Zandt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edom
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 387 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Edom <1>
  • Ben Wheeler
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Fincastle
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Fincastle is located in Henderson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fincastle
  • Malakoff
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Chandler
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Colfax
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Colfax is located in Van Zandt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colfax
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Jackson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Jackson is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
    • Bradford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Bradford is located in Anderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
    • Carroll
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Carroll is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll

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

Newspapers Published in Murchison ...

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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Murchison.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Murchison, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Murchison.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Murchison:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Murchison) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 Murchison, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.