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 Ridge (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 Ridge. 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 Ridge ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Oak Ridge: Oak Rdg. (or less commonly used: Oak Rdge. or Oak Ridg.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Oak Ridge. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Oak Ridge.
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 and doctors 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 Ridge is located in Kaufman 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 Kaufman County: Dallas, Ellis, Henderson, Hunt, Rockwall & Van Zandt.
Below are the counties that are near Oak Ridge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oak Ridge:
- Kaufman County (The home county of Oak Ridge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Abner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Abner is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abner
- Kaufman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Post Oak Bend City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- 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
- College Mound
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- College Mound is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Mound
- Ola
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ola is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ola
- Lone Star
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lone Star is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
- Terrell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 704 people
- Elmo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lawrence
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lawrence is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrence
- Talty
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Talty is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,883 people
- Becker
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Becker is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Becker
- Collin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Royse City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Lavon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Nevada
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Josephine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Sachse
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Combine
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Combine is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Combine
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,537 people
- Seagoville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Lawson
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Lawson is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawson
- Mesquite
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sunnyvale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Balch Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Kleberg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Kleberg is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kleberg
- New Hope
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- New Hope is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Ferris
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Wilmer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Rowlett
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hutchins
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Ellis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Walnut Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Walnut Springs is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Springs
- Bristol
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bristol is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Telico
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Telico is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Telico
- Crisp
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Crisp is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crisp
- Palmer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Alma
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Alma is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
- Ennis
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Garrett
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Garrett is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 891 people
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Seven Points
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Gun Barrel City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Payne Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Payne Springs is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 756 people
- Tool
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Eustace
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Enchanted Oaks
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Enchanted Oaks is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enchanted Oaks
- Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
- Log Cabin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Log Cabin is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log Cabin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 785 people
- Hunt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Hawk Cove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hawk Cove is located in Hunt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawk Cove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 562 people
- Quinlan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Union Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Union Valley is located in Hunt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 461 people
- Boles Home
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Boles Home is located in Hunt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boles Home
- West Tawakoni
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- West Tawakoni is located in Hunt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Tawakoni
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,994 people
- Hendrix
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hendrix is located in Hunt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
- Caddo Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Weiland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Weiland is located in Hunt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weiland
- Navarro County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Chatfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Rice
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bazette
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bazette is located in Navarro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bazette
- Tupelo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Tupelo is located in Navarro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tupelo
- Rains County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Flats
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Flats is located in Rains County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flats
- Hooker Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hooker Ridge is located in Rains County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker Ridge
- East Tawakoni
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- East Tawakoni is located in Rains County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Tawakoni
- Population from the 2020 Census: 991 people
- Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rockwall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- McLendon - Chisholm
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- McLendon - Chisholm is located in Rockwall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLendon - Chisholm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,815 people
- Blackland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Blackland is located in Rockwall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackland
- Mobile City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mobile City is located in Rockwall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Fate
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Rockwall
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Van Zandt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Wills Point
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Myrtle Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Myrtle Springs is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Springs
- Edgewood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Canton
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Tundra
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tundra is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tundra
- Fruitvale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oak Ridge, see our County-by-County Page for Oak Ridge.
Cemeteries Near Oak Ridge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oak Ridge.
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 Ridge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oak Ridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Easton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Post Oak Bend Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kaufman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaufman Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Kaufman Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Kaufman.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #188945 <2>
- East Bachelor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Morrow Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Blackjack Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackjack Cemetery
- The Blackjack Cemetery has also been known as:
- Black Jack Cemetery
- Blackjack MB Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1204395 <2>
- College Mound Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Mound Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the College Mound Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<3> to the southeast of Terrell.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1188058 <2>
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Rader Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Oakwood Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the west of Terrell.
- The Oakwood Cemetery has also been known as:
- Old Oakwood Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #5698 <2>
- New Oakwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Fox Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (176 more) ...
- S E Terrell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Oakland Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Locust Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
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 Oak Ridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oak Ridge.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Kaufman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Abner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Abner is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abner
- Terrell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Elmo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lawrence
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lawrence is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrence
- Scurry
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Crandall
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Kemp
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Prairieville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Prairieville is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Poetry
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Poetry is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poetry
- Stubbs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Stubbs is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stubbs
- Wise
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wise is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wise
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Wills Point
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Forney
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Chisholm
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Chisholm is located in Rockwall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chisholm
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oak Ridge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oak Ridge.
Newspapers Published in Oak Ridge ...
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 77 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oak Ridge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oak Ridge, 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 Oak Ridge.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Oak Ridge:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Kaufman County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Collin County
- Dallas County
- Ellis County
- Henderson County
- Hunt County
- Navarro County
- Rains County
- Rockwall County
- Van Zandt 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' (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 Ridge) 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 Oak Ridge, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |