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 Plainview (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 Plainview. 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 southwest 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 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.
Plainview is located in Houston 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 Houston County: Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, Leon, Madison, Trinity & Walker.
Below are the counties that are near Plainview. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Plainview:
- Houston County (The home county of Plainview)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
- Holly
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Holly is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly
- Fog Town
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fog Town is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fog Town
- Kennard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hickory Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Creek
- Harrison Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Harrison Town is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison Town
- Lovelady
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hagerville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hagerville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagerville
- Ratcliff
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Crockett
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Belott
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Belott is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belott
- Tadmor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Tadmor is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tadmor
- Antioch ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Antioch is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Latexo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
- Mound City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mound City is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
- Salmon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Salmon is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salmon
- Slocum
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Slocum is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
- Angelina County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
- Blix
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Blix is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blix
- Redtown
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Redtown is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redtown
- Granville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Granville is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Peavy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Peavy is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peavy
- Rutland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Rutland is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutland
- Pollok
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Diboll
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hudson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hudson is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,288 people
- Providence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Providence is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Durant
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Durant is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durant
- Burke
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Burke is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burke
- Population from the 2020 Census: 727 people
- Woodlawn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Woodlawn is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
- Central
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Central is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
- Forest
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Forest is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest
- Weeping Mary
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Weeping Mary is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeping Mary
- Wells
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
- Onalaska
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Corrigan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Skinner Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Skinner Town is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinner Town
- Trinity County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
- Pennington
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Friday
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Friday is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friday
- Center Point ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Center Point is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Centralia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Lacy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lacy is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacy
- Lacy has also been known as:
- Lacey
- Glendale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Glendale is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Groveton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Helmic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Helmic is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helmic
- Apple Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Sumpter ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sumpter is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumpter
- Mill Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Mill Town is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Town
- Woodlake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Woodlake is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlake
- Chita
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Chita is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chita
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
- Kittrell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kittrell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kittrell
- Riverside
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Plainview, see our County-by-County Page for Plainview.
Cemeteries Near Plainview ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plainview.
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 Plainview - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Plainview covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
- Old Shady Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fodice Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pennington Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Foster Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Possum Walk Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Anderson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ellis Prairie Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Creasy Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Holly Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ivie Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivie Cemetery
- The Ivie Cemetery has also been known as:
- Ivy Cemetery
- Concord Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Continue List (189 more) ...
- Helton Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- English Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cal Wooten Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Plainview in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Plainview.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
- Pennington
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Holly
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Holly is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly
- Lovelady
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Saron
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Saron is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saron
- Centralia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Hagerville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hagerville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagerville
- Ratcliff
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Crockett
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Belott
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Belott is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belott
- Groveton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Tadmor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Tadmor is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tadmor
- Antioch ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Antioch is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Josserand
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Josserand is located in Trinity County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Josserand
- Apple Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- San Pedro
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- San Pedro is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Pedro
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Plainview. See our List of 1890's Communities around Plainview.
Newspapers Published in Plainview ...
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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plainview.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Plainview, 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 Plainview.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Plainview:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Houston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Angelina County
- Cherokee County
- Polk County
- Trinity County
- Walker 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> | 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 Plainview, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Plainview) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |