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 Oak Flat (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 Oak Flat. 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.
Name Variations for Oak Flat ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Oak Flat: Oak Flt.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Oak Flat. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Oak Flat.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Oak Flat is located in Nacogdoches 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 Nacogdoches County: Angelina, Cherokee, Rusk, San Augustine & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Oak Flat. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oak Flat:
- Nacogdoches County (The home county of Oak Flat)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Flat, with the one closest to Oak Flat listed first.
- Cushing
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Trawick
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Trawick is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trawick
- Looneyville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Looneyville is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Looneyville
- Nat
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Nat is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nat
- Dextra
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Dextra is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dextra
- Sacul
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Douglass
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Redfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Redfield is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfield
- Appleby
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Appleby is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
- Fitze
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Fitze is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitze
- Alazan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Alazan is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alazan
- Nacogdoches
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Whispering Pines
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Whispering Pines is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Pines
- Angelina County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Flat, with the one closest to Oak Flat listed first.
- Pollok
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Central
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Central is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Durant
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Durant is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durant
- River Crest Estates
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- River Crest Estates is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Crest Estates
- Clawson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Clawson is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clawson
- Redland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Redland is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redland
- Redtown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Redtown is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redtown
- Davisville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Davisville is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davisville
- Platt
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Platt is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platt
- Cedar Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Cedar Grove is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Moffitt
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Moffitt is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moffitt
- Keltys
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Keltys is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keltys
- Woodlawn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Woodlawn is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Flat, with the one closest to Oak Flat listed first.
- Reklaw
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Ponta
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Ponta is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponta
- Alto
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- New Birmingham ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- New Birmingham is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Birmingham
- Rusk
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Gallatin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- New Summerfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Griffin
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Griffin is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- Wells
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Forest
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Forest is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest
- Turney
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Turney is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turney
- Blackjack
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Blackjack is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackjack
- Dialville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Dialville is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dialville
- Houston County
- Bluff City ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bluff City is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Panola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Flat, with the one closest to Oak Flat listed first.
- Dotson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dotson is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotson
- Long Branch
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Buncome
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Buncome is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buncome
- Clayton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gary City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Murvaul
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Murvaul is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murvaul
- Rusk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Flat, with the one closest to Oak Flat listed first.
- Sulphur Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Oak Flats
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Oak Flats is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Flats
- Mount Enterprise
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Laneville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- New Salem
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Salem is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Concord
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Concord is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Minden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Caledonia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Caledonia is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Brachfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Brachfield is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brachfield
- Big Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Big Springs is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Pinehill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Pinehill is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehill
- Henderson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Price
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Flat, with the one closest to Oak Flat listed first.
- Timpson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Arcadia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Arcadia is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Smith County
- Wright City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wright City is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oak Flat, see our County-by-County Page for Oak Flat.
Cemeteries Near Oak Flat ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oak Flat.
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 Oak Flat - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oak Flat covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oak Flat, with the one closest to Oak Flat listed first.
- Owens Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Fenton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Old Pine Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hall Springs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Linn Flat Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Blackburn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fuller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Friendship Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Barnes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kipp Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Brewer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Simon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (245 more) ...
- Shiloh Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Clifton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Redland Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
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>
While we didn't find Oak Flat in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oak Flat.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oak Flat, with the one closest to Oak Flat listed first.
- Looneyville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Looneyville is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Looneyville
- Linn Flat
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Linn Flat is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linn Flat
- Glenfawn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Glenfawn is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenfawn
- Douglass
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Enterprise
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Redfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Redfield is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfield
- Laneville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Appleby
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Appleby is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
- New Salem
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Salem is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Linwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Linwood is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- Lawsonville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lawsonville is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonville
- Nacogdoches
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Fitze
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Fitze is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitze
- Minden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Garrison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oak Flat. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oak Flat.
Newspapers Published in Oak Flat ...
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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oak Flat.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oak Flat, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oak Flat.
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 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 Oak Flat:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Nacogdoches County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Angelina County
- Cherokee County
- Houston County
- Panola County
- Rusk County
- Shelby County
- Smith 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 Oak Flat, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Oak Flat) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |