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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 Port Bolivar (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 Port Bolivar. 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 Port Bolivar ...

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.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might have occurred.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Port Bolivar: Prt. Bolivar

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 ...

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 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.

Port Bolivar is located in Galveston County.

To see how the shape of Texas' counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Galveston County: Brazoria & Harris.

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

  • Galveston County     (The home county of Port Bolivar)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Port Bolivar, with the one closest to Port Bolivar listed first.
    • Galveston
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Texas City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Crystal Beach
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Tiki Island
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tiki Island have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiki Island
      • Tiki Island is located in Galveston County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,072 people
      • Tiki Island has also been known as:
      • Village of Tiki Island
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tiki Island <1>
    • Texas City Junction
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Texas City Junction have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Texas City Junction
      • Texas City Junction is located in Galveston County
    • San Leon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Bayou Vista
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bayou Vista have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Vista
      • Bayou Vista is located in Galveston County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,637 people
    • La Marque
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Texas City Terminal Junction
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Texas City Terminal Junction have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Texas City Terminal Junction
      • Texas City Terminal Junction is located in Galveston County
    • Bolivar Peninsula
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bolivar Peninsula have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar Peninsula
      • Bolivar Peninsula is located in Galveston County
    • Hitchcock
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Bacliff
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Brazoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Port Bolivar, with the one closest to Port Bolivar listed first.
    • Hillcrest
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • San Luis ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for San Luis. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Luis
      • San Luis is located in Brazoria County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to San Luis
      • From Port Bolivar to San Luis
    • Woodcreek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Chambers County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Port Bolivar, with the one closest to Port Bolivar listed first.
    • Smith Point
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Seabrook
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Shoreacres
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shoreacres have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoreacres
      • Shoreacres is located in Chambers County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,578 people
    • Double Bayou
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Beach City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beach City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach City
      • Beach City is located in Chambers County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,825 people
    • Anahuac
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Baytown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Baytown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baytown
      • Baytown is located in Chambers County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 77,288 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Baytown <1>
    • Cove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cove have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove
      • Cove is located in Chambers County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 586 people
    • Monroe City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Monroe City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe City
      • Monroe City is located in Chambers County
  • Harris County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Port Bolivar, with the one closest to Port Bolivar listed first.
    • Mystic Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mystic Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic Village
      • Mystic Village is located in Harris County
    • El Lago
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for El Lago have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Lago
      • El Lago is located in Harris County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,736 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for El Lago <1>
    • Gateway Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gateway Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gateway Village
      • Gateway Village is located in Harris County
    • Nassau Bay
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nassau Bay have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nassau Bay
      • Nassau Bay is located in Harris County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,907 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nassau Bay <1>
    • Taylor Lake Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Taylor Lake Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Lake Village
      • Taylor Lake Village is located in Harris County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,490 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Taylor Lake Village <1>
    • Webster
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Webster have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
      • Webster is located in Harris County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,291 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Webster <1>
    • Clear Lake City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clear Lake City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake City
      • Clear Lake City is located in Harris County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clear Lake City <1>
    • La Porte
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Morgan's Point
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Morgan's Point have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan's Point
      • Morgan's Point is located in Harris County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 337 people
    • Baybrook Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Baybrook Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baybrook Village
      • Baybrook Village is located in Harris County
    • Chaparral Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chaparral Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaparral Village
      • Chaparral Village is located in Harris County
    • Cedar Bayou
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Port Bolivar ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Port Bolivar.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<5>

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

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

  • Galveston
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Virginia Point
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Virginia Point have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Point
    • Virginia Point is located in Galveston County
  • Smith Point
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • La Marque
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Dickinson
    (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dickinson have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickinson
    • Dickinson is located in Galveston County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,216 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dickinson <1>
  • Arcadia
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Arcadia have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Arcadia is located in Galveston County
  • Double Bayou
    (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
  • Anahuac
    (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Cedar Bayou
    (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Port Bolivar ...

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 207 newspapers that have been published in the area around Port Bolivar.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Port Bolivar, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Port Bolivar.

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 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 Port Bolivar:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Port Bolivar. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Galveston County: www.co.galveston.tx.us/

The official website for State of Texas: https://texas.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>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 Port Bolivar, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Port Bolivar) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Port Bolivar. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 29.3822, Longitude: -94.7660    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025