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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 Oak Valley (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 Valley. 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 Valley ...

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 Valley: Oak Vly. (or less commonly used: Oak Vally. or Oak Vlly.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Oak Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Oak Valley.

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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.

Oak Valley is located in Navarro 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 Navarro County: Anderson, Ellis, Freestone, Henderson, Hill & Limestone.

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

  • Navarro County     (The home county of Oak Valley)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Valley, with the one closest to Oak Valley listed first.
    • Retreat
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Retreat is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retreat
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 384 people
    • Mustang
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Mustang is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mustang
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
    • Corsicana
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Angus
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Angus is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angus
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
    • Navarro
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Navarro is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navarro
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
    • Barry
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Pursley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Pursley is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pursley
    • Richland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Richland is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
    • Purdon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Silver City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Silver City is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
    • Emhouse
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Emhouse is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emhouse
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
    • Dresden
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Dresden is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresden
  • Ellis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Valley, with the one closest to Oak Valley listed first.
    • Alma
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Alma is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
    • Bardwell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Avalon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Ennis
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Telico
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Telico is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Telico
    • Howard
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Howard is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard
    • Nash
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Nash is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
    • Garrett
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Garrett is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 891 people
    • Italy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Crisp
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Crisp is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crisp
    • Forreston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Milford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Freestone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Valley, with the one closest to Oak Valley listed first.
    • Streetman
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Wortham
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Winkler
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Winkler is located in Freestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkler
    • Kirvin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Stewards Mill ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Stewards Mill is located in Freestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewards Mill
    • Cotton Gin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Fairfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Teague
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Teague is located in Freestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,526 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Teague <1>
  • Henderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Valley, with the one closest to Oak Valley listed first.
    • Trinidad
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Tool
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Tool is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tool
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,335 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tool <1>
    • Seven Points
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Enchanted Oaks
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Enchanted Oaks is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enchanted Oaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
    • Payne Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Payne Springs is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 756 people
    • Star Harbor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Star Harbor is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Harbor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
    • Malakoff
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Caney City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Caney City is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 223 people
    • Gun Barrel City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Hill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Valley, with the one closest to Oak Valley listed first.
    • Hubbard
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Irene
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Mertens
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Malone
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Brandon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Penelope
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Mount Calm
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bynum
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Kaufman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Valley, with the one closest to Oak Valley listed first.
    • Styx
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Styx is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Styx
    • Tolosa
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Tolosa is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolosa
    • Rosser
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Stubbs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Stubbs is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stubbs
    • Cottonwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Cottonwood is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
  • Limestone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Valley, with the one closest to Oak Valley listed first.
    • Tehuacana
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Coolidge
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Mexia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Mexia is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mexia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,287 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mexia <1>
    • Delia ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Delia is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delia
    • Frosa
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Frosa is located in Limestone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frosa
    • Prairie Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Oak Valley ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oak Valley.

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

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

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

  • Cosgrove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Hamilton - Beeman Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Resthaven Memorial Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Cunningham Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Marshall Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Black Hills Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Campbell - Elrod Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Woodland Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Woodland Memorial Park
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Memorial Park
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Woodland Memorial Park is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Corsicana.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7730 <3>
  • Zion Rest Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Grape Creek Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (143 more) ...
    • Providence Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Younger Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Hopewell Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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 Valley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oak Valley.

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

  • Angus
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Angus is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angus
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
  • Corsicana
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Drane
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Drane is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drane
  • Purdon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Pursley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Pursley is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pursley
  • Richland
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Richland is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
  • Barry
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Dresden
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Dresden is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresden
  • Cryer Creek ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Cryer Creek is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cryer Creek
  • Eureka
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Eureka is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
  • Powell
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Powell is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
  • Blooming Grove
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Spring Hill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Spring Hill is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
    • Rice
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Rice is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 983 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rice <1>
    • Dawson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Oak Valley ...

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 72 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oak Valley.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oak Valley, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oak Valley.

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 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 Valley:

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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Oak Valley) 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 Oak Valley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.