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 Odom (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 Odom. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Odom is located in Van Zandt 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 Van Zandt County: Henderson, Hunt, Kaufman, Rains, Smith & Wood.
Below are the counties that are near Odom. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Odom:
- Van Zandt County (The home county of Odom)
- The following are listed by their distance from Odom, with the one closest to Odom listed first.
- Tundra
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tundra is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tundra
- Canton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Myrtle Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Myrtle Springs is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Springs
- Ben Wheeler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Wills Point
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Edgewood
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Edom
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Fruitvale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Van
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- 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>
- Grand Saline
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odom, with the one closest to Odom listed first.
- Cayuga
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Bradford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bradford is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Springfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Springfield is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Ellis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odom, with the one closest to Odom listed first.
- Telico
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Telico is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Telico
- Alma
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Alma is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odom, with the one closest to Odom listed first.
- Eustace
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Gun Barrel City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Payne Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Payne Springs is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 756 people
- Enchanted Oaks
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Enchanted Oaks is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enchanted Oaks
- Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
- Log Cabin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Log Cabin is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log Cabin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 785 people
- Tool
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Seven Points
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Caney City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Caney City is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 223 people
- Star Harbor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Star Harbor is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Harbor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
- Malakoff
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Athens
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Trinidad
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Murchison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kaufman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odom, with the one closest to Odom listed first.
- Mabank
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Prairieville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Prairieville is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Becker
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Becker is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Becker
- Kemp
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Tolosa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Tolosa is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolosa
- Ola
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ola is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ola
- Stubbs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Stubbs is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stubbs
- Styx
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Styx is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Styx
- Abner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Abner is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abner
- Oak Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 704 people
- Grays Prairie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Grays Prairie is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grays Prairie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 388 people
- Kaufman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Ridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Ridge is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 806 people
- Navarro County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odom, with the one closest to Odom listed first.
- Bazette
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bazette is located in Navarro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bazette
- Kerens
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Goodlow
(21 miles [33.8 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
- Chatfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Roane
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Roane is located in Navarro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roane
- Elm Flat
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Elm Flat is located in Navarro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Flat
- Powell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Powell is located in Navarro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Tupelo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Tupelo is located in Navarro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tupelo
- Mildred
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mildred is located in Navarro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mildred
- Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
- Rice
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Eureka
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eureka is located in Navarro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odom, with the one closest to Odom listed first.
- Jamestown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jamestown is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Carroll
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Carroll is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
- Garden Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Garden Valley is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Valley
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Odom, see our County-by-County Page for Odom.
Cemeteries Near Odom ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Odom.
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 Odom - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Odom covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Odom, with the one closest to Odom listed first.
- Beard Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Goshen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mabank Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Moorehead Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mason Ranch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cottonwood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Morris Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Traver Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Aanonsen Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Field Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Clear Creek Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Payne Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Continue List (151 more) ...
- Brewer Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Chinquapin Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Baker Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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.<3>
While we didn't find Odom in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Odom.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Odom, with the one closest to Odom listed first.
- Roddy
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Roddy is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roddy
- Payne Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Payne Springs is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 756 people
- Prairieville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Prairieville is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Wise
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Wise is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wise
- Jackson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Walton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Walton is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walton
- Kemp
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Tolosa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Tolosa is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolosa
- Malakoff
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Martins Mill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Martins Mill is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martins Mill
- Athens
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Canton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Stubbs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Stubbs is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stubbs
- Trinidad
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Murchison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Odom. See our List of 1890's Communities around Odom.
Newspapers Published in Odom ...
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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Odom.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Odom, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Odom.
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 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 Odom:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Van Zandt County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Ellis County
- Henderson County
- Kaufman County
- Navarro 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 Odom, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Odom) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |