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 Murphy (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 Murphy. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Murphy is located in Collin 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 Collin County: Dallas, Denton, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt & Rockwall.
Below are the counties that are near Murphy. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Murphy:
- Collin County (The home county of Murphy)
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Parker
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Saint Paul
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Paul is located in Collin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,039 people
- Sachse
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wylie
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Lucas
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lucas is located in Collin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,819 people
- Plano
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Clear Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Clear Lake is located in Collin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Allen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Lavon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lowry Crossing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Lowry Crossing is located in Collin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry Crossing
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,743 people
- Copeville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Biggers ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Biggers is located in Collin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggers
- Comanche County
- Cross Roads
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cross Roads is located in Comanche County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Roads
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Garland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Rowlett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Buckingham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Buckingham is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckingham
- Richardson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Centerville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Addison
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- New Hope
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- New Hope is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Rawlins
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rawlins is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rawlins
- Sunnyvale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- University Park
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Farmers Branch
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Highland Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mesquite
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Denton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- The Colony
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Hackberry
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hackberry is located in Denton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackberry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,094 people
- Little Elm
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lakewood Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Lakewood Village is located in Denton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,002 people
- Oak Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln Park
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln Park is located in Denton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 567 people
- Providence Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Providence Village is located in Denton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,564 people
- Hickory Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Lake Dallas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Cross Roads
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Highland Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Shady Shores
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Shady Shores is located in Denton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Shores
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,958 people
- Corinth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Grayson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Cannon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Cannon is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
- Gunter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Pilot Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Pilot Grove is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Grove
- Hunt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Caddo Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Hendrix
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Hendrix is located in Hunt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
- Union Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Union Valley is located in Hunt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 461 people
- Clinton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Clinton is located in Hunt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Merit
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Quinlan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Boles Home
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Boles Home is located in Hunt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boles Home
- Kingston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kingston is located in Hunt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Greenville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Celeste
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kaufman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Heath
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Forney
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lawrence
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lawrence is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrence
- Poetry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Poetry is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poetry
- Talty
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Talty is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,883 people
- Terrell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Crandall
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Lone Star
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lone Star is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
- Post Oak Bend City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Post Oak Bend City is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Oak Bend City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 626 people
- Rockwall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Rockwall
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fate
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Mobile City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mobile City is located in Rockwall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Blackland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Blackland is located in Rockwall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackland
- McLendon - Chisholm
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- McLendon - Chisholm is located in Rockwall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLendon - Chisholm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,815 people
- Tarrant County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Minters Chapel ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Minters Chapel is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minters Chapel
- Euless
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Murphy, see our County-by-County Page for Murphy.
Cemeteries Near Murphy ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Murphy.
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 Murphy - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Murphy covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Moulden Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Murphy / Maxwell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Murphy Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- McMillan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Race Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Race Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Race Cemetery is located outside of Garland
- The Race Cemetery has also been known as:
- Catlett Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2148473 <2>
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Wylie / Kreymer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Wylie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hughes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Paul Cemetery
- The St. Paul Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Paul Catholic Cemetery
- Bowman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mutual Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (242 more) ...
- Plano Mutual Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Routh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Cottonwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Murphy had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Murphy had a population of 20,844 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Parker
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Sachse
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Paul
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Paul is located in Collin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,039 people
- Pleasant Valley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Wylie
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Lucas
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lucas is located in Collin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,819 people
- Plano
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Garland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Allen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Richardson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rowlett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Renner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Renner is located in Collin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renner
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Lavon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Rockwall
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Millwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Millwood is located in Collin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Murphy. See our List of 1890's Communities around Murphy.
Newspapers Published in Murphy ...
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 229 newspapers that have been published in the area around Murphy.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Murphy, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Murphy.
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 Murphy:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Collin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Comanche County
- Dallas County
- Denton County
- Grayson County
- Hunt County
- Kaufman County
- Rockwall County
- Tarrant 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> | 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 Murphy, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Murphy) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |