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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 Payton (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 Payton. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Payton is located in Blanco 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 Blanco County: Burnet, Comal, Gillespie, Hays, Kendall, Llano & Travis.

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

  • Blanco County     (The home county of Payton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payton, with the one closest to Payton listed first.
    • Blanco
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Twin Sisters
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Twin Sisters is located in Blanco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Sisters
    • Johnson City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Flugrath ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Flugrath is located in Blanco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flugrath
    • Cypress Mill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Hye
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Sandy
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Round Mountain
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Blowout
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Blowout is located in Blanco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blowout
  • Bexar County
    • Timberwood Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Timberwood Park is located in Bexar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberwood Park
  • Burnet County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payton, with the one closest to Payton listed first.
    • Shovel Mountain
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Shovel Mountain is located in Burnet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shovel Mountain
    • Spicewood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Cottonwood Shores
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Comal County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payton, with the one closest to Payton listed first.
    • Fischer
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Cranes Mill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Cranes Mill is located in Comal County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranes Mill
    • Canyon Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Canyon Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Canyon Springs is located in Comal County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon Springs
    • Canyon Lake Forest
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Canyon Lake Forest is located in Comal County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon Lake Forest
    • Westhaven
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Westhaven is located in Comal County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westhaven
    • Canyon City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Canyon City is located in Comal County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon City
    • Spring Branch
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Startzville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Startzville is located in Comal County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Startzville
    • Sattler
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Sattler is located in Comal County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sattler
    • Smithson Valley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Smithson Valley is located in Comal County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithson Valley
    • Fourth Crossing
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Fourth Crossing is located in Comal County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fourth Crossing
  • Gillespie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payton, with the one closest to Payton listed first.
    • Albert
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Albert is located in Gillespie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albert
    • Stonewall
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Blumenthal
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Blumenthal is located in Gillespie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blumenthal
    • Luckenbach
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Willow City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Cain City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Cain City is located in Gillespie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cain City
    • Grapetown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Grapetown is located in Gillespie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grapetown
  • Hays County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payton, with the one closest to Payton listed first.
    • Henly
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Henly is located in Hays County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henly
    • Mount Gainor
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Mount Gainor is located in Hays County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gainor
    • Pleasant Valley Crossing
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodcreek
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodcreek is located in Hays County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodcreek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,758 people
    • Dripping Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Cloptins Crossing
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Cloptins Crossing is located in Hays County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloptins Crossing
    • Pioneer Town
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Pioneer Town is located in Hays County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Town
    • Wimberley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Driftwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Fitzhugh
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Fitzhugh is located in Hays County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzhugh
    • Bear Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Bear Creek is located in Hays County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
      • Estimated population in 2017: 445 people
    • Flatrock Ford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Flatrock Ford is located in Hays County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatrock Ford
  • Kendall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payton, with the one closest to Payton listed first.
    • Kendalia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bergheim
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Ammans Crossing ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Ammans Crossing is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ammans Crossing
    • Sisterdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Kreutzberg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Kreutzberg is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kreutzberg
    • Bankersmith
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Bankersmith is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bankersmith
  • Llano County
    • Horseshoe Bay
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Travis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Payton, with the one closest to Payton listed first.
    • Bee Cave
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • The Hills
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • The Hills is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,456 people
    • Briarcliff
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Lakeway
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Point Venture
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Point Venture is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point Venture
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,053 people
      • Point Venture has also been known as:
      • Point Venture village
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Point Venture <1>
    • Shady Hollow
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Shady Hollow is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Hollow
    • Buffalo Gap
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Manchaca
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Tanglewood Forest
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Tanglewood Forest is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewood Forest
    • Barton Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Barton Creek is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton Creek
    • San Leanna
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • San Leanna is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Leanna
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 507 people
    • Hudson Bend
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Hudson Bend is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson Bend

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

Cemeteries Near Payton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Payton.

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

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

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

  • Payton Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Peyton Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Miller Creek Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Mt. Sharp Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Blanco Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Henly Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henly Cemetery
    • The Henly Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Flatcreek Cemetery
    • Henly Community Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #4169 <2>
  • Dye Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Pursley Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pursley Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Pursley Cemetery is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<3> to the southwest of Dripping Springs.
  • August Jonas Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Jonas Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Twin Sisters Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Marys Catholic Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (135 more) ...
    • Pleasant Valley Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley Cemetery
      • The Pleasant Valley Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Peal Cemetery
      • Valley Ford Cemetery
    • Gatlin - Garrett Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • McKellar Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)

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 Payton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Payton.

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

  • Blanco
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Henly
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Henly is located in Hays County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henly
  • Twin Sisters
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Twin Sisters is located in Blanco County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Sisters
  • Johnson City
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Cranes Mill
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Cranes Mill is located in Comal County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranes Mill
  • Wimberley
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Dripping Springs
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Kendalia
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Driftwood
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Spring Branch
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Cypress Mill
    (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Hye
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Sattler
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Sattler is located in Comal County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sattler
    • Sandy
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Smithson Valley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Smithson Valley is located in Comal County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithson Valley

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

Newspapers Published in Payton ...

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 60 newspapers that have been published in the area around Payton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Payton, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Payton.

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 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 Payton:

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- Payton) 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 Payton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.