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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 Prairie Valley (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 Prairie Valley. 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 Prairie Valley ...

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 Prairie Valley: Prairie Vly. (or less commonly used: Prairie Vally. or Prairie Vlly.)

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

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 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.

Prairie Valley is located in Fayette 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 Fayette County: Austin, Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Gonzales, Lavaca, Lee & Washington.

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

  • Fayette County     (The home county of Prairie Valley)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Valley, with the one closest to Prairie Valley listed first.
    • Plum
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • West Point
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Kirtley
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Kirtley is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirtley
    • La Grange
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Warda
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Hostyn
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Hostyn is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hostyn
    • Stellar
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Stellar is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stellar
    • Muldoon
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Rutersville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Rutersville is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutersville
    • Joiner
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Joiner is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joiner
    • Nechanitz
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Nechanitz is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nechanitz
    • Halsted
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Halsted is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halsted
    • Freyburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Freyburg is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freyburg
  • Austin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Valley, with the one closest to Prairie Valley listed first.
    • Shelby
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Shelby is located in Austin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
    • Industry
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • New Ulm
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Bastrop County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Valley, with the one closest to Prairie Valley listed first.
    • Smithville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Kovar
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Kovar is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kovar
    • Togo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Togo is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Togo
    • Alum Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Alum Creek is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alum Creek
    • Upton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Upton is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upton
    • Rosanky
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Paige
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Hills Prairie
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Hills Prairie is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills Prairie
    • Bastrop
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jeddo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Jeddo is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
    • Camp Swift
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Camp Swift is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Swift
    • Phelan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Phelan is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelan
    • Red Rock
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Caldwell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Valley, with the one closest to Prairie Valley listed first.
    • Delhi
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Delhi is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
    • Pettytown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Pettytown is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettytown
    • Elm Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Elm Grove is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Grove
    • Taylorsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Taylorsville is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville
  • Colorado County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Valley, with the one closest to Prairie Valley listed first.
    • Weimar
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Pisek ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Pisek is located in Colorado County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisek
    • Borden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Borden is located in Colorado County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden
    • New Bielau ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • New Bielau is located in Colorado County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Bielau
    • Oakland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Frelsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Frelsburg is located in Colorado County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frelsburg
    • Hillcrest
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Hillcrest is located in Colorado County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
    • Glidden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Gonzales County
    • Waelder
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Lavaca County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Valley, with the one closest to Prairie Valley listed first.
    • Gleckler
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Gleckler is located in Lavaca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gleckler
    • Moravia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Moravia is located in Lavaca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moravia
    • Hackberry ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Hackberry is located in Lavaca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackberry
    • Komensky
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Komensky is located in Lavaca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Komensky
    • Moulton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Breslau
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Breslau is located in Lavaca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breslau
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Valley, with the one closest to Prairie Valley listed first.
    • Serbin ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Serbin is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Serbin
    • Giddings
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Lincoln
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Loebau
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Loebau is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loebau
    • Fedor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Fedor is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fedor
    • Dime Box
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Old Dime Box
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Old Dime Box is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Dime Box
    • Knobbs Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Knobbs Springs is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knobbs Springs
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie Valley, with the one closest to Prairie Valley listed first.
    • La Bahia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • La Bahia is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Bahia
    • Burton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenvine
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Greenvine is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenvine
    • Wesley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Wesley is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley

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

Cemeteries Near Prairie Valley ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Prairie Valley.

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 Prairie Valley - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Mt. Olive Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Plum Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Plum Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Woods Prairie Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Shiloh Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Winchester Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Mantan Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Cedar Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Black Jack Springs Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • La Grange Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (173 more) ...

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

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

  • Plum
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • West Point
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Winchester
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Winchester is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
  • La Grange
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • O'Quinn
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • O'Quinn is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Quinn
  • Warda
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Stellar
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Stellar is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stellar
  • Muldoon
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Smithville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Rutersville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Rutersville is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutersville
  • Serbin ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Serbin is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Serbin
  • Swiss Alp
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Swiss Alp is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swiss Alp
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Joiner
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Joiner is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joiner
    • Nechanitz
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Nechanitz is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nechanitz
    • Freyburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Freyburg is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freyburg

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

Newspapers Published in Prairie Valley ...

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 Prairie Valley.

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

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 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 Prairie Valley:

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 'straight-line' (or 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- Prairie Valley) 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 Prairie Valley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.