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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 Pleasant Ridge (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 Pleasant Ridge. 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 Pleasant Ridge ...

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 Pleasant Ridge: Pleasant Rdg. (or less commonly used: Pleasant Rdge. or Pleasant Ridg.)

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

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/Parishes ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties/parishes.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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/parishes 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 north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties/parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Pleasant Ridge is located in Panola 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 Panola County: Caddo (LA), De Soto (LA), Harrison, Rusk & Shelby.

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

  • Panola County     (The home county of Pleasant Ridge)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
    • Carthage
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Murvaul
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Murvaul is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murvaul
    • Gary City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Buncome
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Buncome is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buncome
    • Delray
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Delray is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delray
    • Woods
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Woods is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods
    • Clayton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Beckville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Midyett
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Midyett is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midyett
    • Dotson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Dotson is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotson
    • Long Branch
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • De Berry
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Center Point ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Center Point is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
  • Gregg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
    • Easton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Elderville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Elderville is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elderville
    • Lakeport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Harrison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
    • Elysian Fields
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Marshall
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Scottsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Jonesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Waskom
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Hallsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Nacogdoches County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
    • Garrison
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Fitze
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Fitze is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitze
    • Whispering Pines
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Whispering Pines is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Pines
  • Rusk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
    • Pinehill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Pinehill is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehill
    • Caledonia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Caledonia is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
    • Tatum
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Brachfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Brachfield is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brachfield
    • Concord
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Concord is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Minden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Mount Enterprise
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Oak Flats
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Flats is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Flats
    • Henderson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Monroe
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Monroe is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
    • Sulphur Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Sulphur Springs is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
    • Laneville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
    • Tenaha
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Timpson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Joaquin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Haslam
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Haslam is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haslam
    • Arcadia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Arcadia is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Africa ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Africa is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
    • Campti
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Campti is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campti
    • Short
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Short is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
    • Shelbyville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Choice
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Choice is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choice
  • Caddo Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
    • Bethany
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Spring Ridge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Spring Ridge is located in Caddo Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Ridge
  • De Soto Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
    • Logansport
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Longstreet
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Keachi
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Keachi is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keachi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
    • Stanley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Stanley is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Screamerville ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Screamerville is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screamerville
    • Gloster
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Grand Cane
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Pleasant Ridge ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pleasant Ridge.

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 Pleasant Ridge - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Gary - Taylor Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Murvaul Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Anderson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Walker Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Snap Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Page Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Miller Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Thomas Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Gary Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Ross - Etheridge Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Carrico Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (214 more) ...
    • Shady Grove Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Fite Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Campground Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<4>

While we didn't find Pleasant Ridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Pleasant Ridge.

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

  • Carthage
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Woods
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Woods is located in Panola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods
  • Delray
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Delray is located in Panola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delray
  • Deadwood
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Deadwood is located in Panola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deadwood
  • Beckville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Fair Play
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Fair Play is located in Panola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Play
  • Tenaha
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Midyett
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Midyett is located in Panola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midyett
  • Long Branch
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Timpson
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • Pinehill
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Pinehill is located in Rusk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehill
  • Caledonia
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Caledonia is located in Rusk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • De Berry
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Centennial
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Centennial is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial
    • Tatum
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Pleasant Ridge ...

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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pleasant Ridge.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pleasant Ridge, 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 Pleasant Ridge.

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 Pleasant Ridge:

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