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 Opelika (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 Opelika. 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 doctors and 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.
Opelika is located in Henderson 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 Henderson County: Anderson, Ellis, Kaufman, Navarro, Smith & Van Zandt.
Below are the counties that are near Opelika. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Opelika:
- Henderson County (The home county of Opelika)
- The following are listed by their distance from Opelika, with the one closest to Opelika listed first.
- Brownsboro
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Leagueville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Leagueville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leagueville
- Murchison
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Moore Station
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Moore Station is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 223 people
- Chandler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- LaRue
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Athens
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
- Poynor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Coffee City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Coffee City is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
- Berryville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Berryville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,066 people
- Eustace
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Log Cabin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Log Cabin is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log Cabin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 785 people
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opelika, with the one closest to Opelika listed first.
- Frankston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Fosterville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Fosterville is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fosterville
- Bradford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Bradford is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Springfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Springfield is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Bois d'Arc
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Bois d'Arc is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bois d'Arc
- Brushy Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Brushy Creek is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek
- Blackfoot
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Blackfoot is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackfoot
- Elmwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Elmwood is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
- Pert
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Pert is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pert
- Elmtown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Elmtown is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmtown
- Ward
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Ward is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Todd City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Todd City is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todd City
- Bethel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opelika, with the one closest to Opelika listed first.
- Cherokee Landing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cherokee Landing is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Landing
- Bullard
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Cuney
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Reese
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Reese is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reese
- Larissa ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Larissa is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larissa
- Mount Selman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Selman is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Selman
- Mixon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mixon is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixon
- Kaufman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opelika, with the one closest to Opelika listed first.
- Mabank
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Prairieville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Prairieville is located in Kaufman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opelika, with the one closest to Opelika listed first.
- Carroll
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Carroll is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
- Dogwood City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dogwood City is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood City
- Noonday
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Noonday is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noonday
- Population from the 2020 Census: 722 people
- Garden Valley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Garden Valley is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Valley
- Lee Spring
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lee Spring is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Spring
- Hideaway
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Hideaway is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hideaway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,208 people
- Teaselville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Teaselville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaselville
- Gresham
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Gresham is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Flint
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Jamestown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Jamestown is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Lindale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Swan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Swan is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Tyler
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Van Zandt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opelika, with the one closest to Opelika listed first.
- Edom
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ben Wheeler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Van
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Tundra
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tundra is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tundra
- Canton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Grand Saline
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Myrtle Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Myrtle Springs is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Springs
- Fruitvale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Edgewood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opelika, with the one closest to Opelika listed first.
- Mineola
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Golden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Opelika, see our County-by-County Page for Opelika.
Cemeteries Near Opelika ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Opelika.
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 Opelika - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Opelika covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Opelika, with the one closest to Opelika listed first.
- Red Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Echols Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echols Cemetery
- The Echols Cemetery has also been known as:
- Jennings Mtn. Cemetery
- Lewis Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Blackjack Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Leagueville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Old Norwegian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Brownsboro Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Asberry Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Rounsavall Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- New Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Friendship Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Edom Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (206 more) ...
- Old Rock Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Ray Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wreary Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
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 Opelika in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Opelika.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Opelika, with the one closest to Opelika listed first.
- Brownsboro
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Murchison
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Edom
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- New York
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- New York is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New York
- Martins Mill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Martins Mill is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martins Mill
- Ben Wheeler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Chandler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Walton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Walton is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walton
- Athens
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
- Fincastle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Fincastle is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fincastle
- Colfax
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Colfax is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colfax
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Carroll
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Carroll is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
- Mount Sylvan
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Sylvan is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sylvan
- Garden Valley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Garden Valley is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Valley
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Opelika. See our List of 1890's Communities around Opelika.
Newspapers Published in Opelika ...
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 48 newspapers that have been published in the area around Opelika.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Opelika, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Opelika.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Opelika:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Henderson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Cherokee County
- Kaufman County
- Smith County
- Van Zandt County
- Wood 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 Opelika, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Opelika) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |