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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 Rankin (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 Rankin. 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.

Rankin is located in Ellis 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 Ellis County: Dallas, Henderson, Hill, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro & Tarrant.

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

  • Ellis County     (The home county of Rankin)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rankin, with the one closest to Rankin listed first.
    • Bardwell
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Avalon
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Howard
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Howard is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard
    • Nash
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Nash is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
    • Ennis
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Forreston
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Alma
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Alma is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
    • Italy
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Garrett
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Garrett is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 891 people
    • Boyce
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Boyce is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyce
    • Ike
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Ike is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ike
    • Boz
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Boz is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boz
    • Crisp
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Crisp is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crisp
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rankin, with the one closest to Rankin listed first.
    • Ferris
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Ovilla
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Glenn Heights
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • DeSoto
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Lancaster
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Wilmer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Combine
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Combine is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Combine
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,537 people
    • Shamrock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Shamrock is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shamrock
    • Hutchins
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Cedar Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Henderson County
    • Seven Points
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Hill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rankin, with the one closest to Rankin listed first.
    • Mertens
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Irene
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Brandon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Carl's Corner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Carl's Corner is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl's Corner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
    • Malone
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Bynum
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Hubbard
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Itasca
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Lovelace
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Lovelace is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovelace
    • Penelope
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Chatt
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Chatt is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatt
    • Hillsboro
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Abbott
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Johnson County
    • Grandview
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Kaufman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rankin, with the one closest to Rankin listed first.
    • Rosser
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Styx
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Styx is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Styx
    • Cottonwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cottonwood is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
    • Grays Prairie
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Grays Prairie is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grays Prairie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 388 people
    • Scurry
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Stubbs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Stubbs is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stubbs
    • Tolosa
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Tolosa is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolosa
  • Navarro County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rankin, with the one closest to Rankin listed first.
    • Cryer Creek ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cryer Creek is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cryer Creek
    • Blooming Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Emhouse
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Emhouse is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emhouse
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
    • Barry
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Frost
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Rice
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Rice is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 983 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rice <1>
    • Dresden
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Dresden is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresden
    • Tupelo
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Tupelo is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tupelo
    • Corsicana
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Silver City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Silver City is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
    • Oak Valley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Oak Valley is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Valley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
    • Chatfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Navarro Mills
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Navarro Mills is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navarro Mills

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

Cemeteries Near Rankin ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rankin.

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

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

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

  • Grady Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Austonia Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Bardwell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Grange Hall Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Sanderson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Maloney Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Dean Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Cryer Creek Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Lone Oak Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Boren Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Pattison Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Templeton Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (144 more) ...
    • Hughes Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • St. Joseph Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Glenwood Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<2>

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

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

  • Avalon
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Cryer Creek ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Cryer Creek is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cryer Creek
  • Blooming Grove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Nash
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Nash is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
  • Barry
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Ennis
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Frost
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Alma
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Alma is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
  • Italy
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Dresden
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Dresden is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresden
  • Rice
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Rice is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 983 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rice <1>
  • Boyce
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Boyce is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyce
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Drane
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Drane is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drane
    • Boz
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Boz is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boz
    • Milford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Rankin ...

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 77 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rankin.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rankin, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rankin.

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 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 Rankin:

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 Rankin, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Rankin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.