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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 Rainbow (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 Rainbow. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Rainbow is located in Somervell 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 Somervell County: Bosque, Erath, Hamilton, Hood & Johnson.

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

  • Somervell County     (The home county of Rainbow)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
    • Nemo
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Glen Rose
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Glass
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Glass is located in Somervell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass
  • Bosque County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
    • Eulogy
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Eulogy is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulogy
    • Walnut Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Kimball
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Kimball is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
    • Morgan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Kopperl
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Lakeside Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lakeside Village is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside Village
    • Iredell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Meridian
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
  • Erath County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
    • Chalk Mountain
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Chalk Mountain is located in Erath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Mountain
    • Bluff Dale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Duffau
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Duffau is located in Erath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffau
    • Morgan Mill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Clairette
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Clairette is located in Erath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clairette
    • Stephenville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Hamilton County
    • Hico
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Hico is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hico
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,437 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hico <1>
  • Hill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
    • Blum
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Huron ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Huron is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
    • Covington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Hood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
    • Fort Spunky
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Fort Spunky is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Spunky
    • Pecan Plantation
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Pecan Plantation is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecan Plantation
    • Hill City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Hill City is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill City
    • DeCordova
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • DeCordova is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeCordova
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,108 people
    • Paluxy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Acton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Granbury
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Brazos Bend
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Brazos Bend is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazos Bend
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
    • Tolar
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Trail Shores
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Oak Trail Shores is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Trail Shores
    • Cresson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Lipan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
    • Bono
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Bono is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bono
    • Godley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cleburne
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Rio Vista
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Joshua
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Keene
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Keene is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keene
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,588 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Keene <1>
    • Coyote Flats
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Coyote Flats is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyote Flats
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 368 people
    • Parker
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Parker is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
    • Cuba
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Cuba is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
    • Cross Timber
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cross Timber is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Timber
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
    • Egan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Egan is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
    • Briaroaks
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Briaroaks is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briaroaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
    • Burleson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Parker County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
    • Dennis
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Annetta South
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Annetta South is located in Parker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annetta South
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 579 people
    • Aledo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Annetta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Annetta is located in Parker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annetta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,319 people
  • Tarrant County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
    • Primrose
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Primrose is located in Tarrant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
    • Saint Francis Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Rainbow ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rainbow.

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

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

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

  • Squaw Creek Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Oldham Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Hopewell Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Mitchell Bend Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Post Oak Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Stanford Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Ft. Spunky Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Lanham Mill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Ward Branch Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Glass Family Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Brazos Point Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Nichols Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (129 more) ...
    • Kristenstad Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Hill Creek Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Davis Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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.<4>

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

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

  • Glen Rose
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Georges Creek
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Georges Creek is located in Somervell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georges Creek
  • Fort Spunky
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Fort Spunky is located in Hood County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Spunky
  • Eulogy
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Eulogy is located in Bosque County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulogy
  • Brazos Point
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Brazos Point is located in Bosque County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazos Point
  • Freeland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Freeland is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeland
  • Paluxy
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Granbury
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Bono
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Bono is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bono
  • Acton
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Chalk Mountain
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Chalk Mountain is located in Erath County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Mountain
  • Walnut Springs
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Tolar
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Thorp Spring
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Thorp Spring is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorp Spring
    • Godley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Rainbow ...

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 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rainbow.

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

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 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 Rainbow:

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