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 Ray (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 Ray. 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 and doctors 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.
Ray is located in Grayson 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 Grayson County: Bryan (OK), Love (OK), Marshall (OK), Collin, Cooke, Denton & Fannin.
Below are the counties that are near Ray. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ray:
- Grayson County (The home county of Ray)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Red River City
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Red River City is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red River City
- Denison
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Preston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Preston is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston
- Frontier Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Frontier Village is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frontier Village
- Twin City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Twin City is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin City
- Pottsboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Knollwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Knollwood is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knollwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 503 people
- Sherman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Locust
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Locust is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust
- Tribune
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Tribune is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tribune
- Gage
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gage is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gage
- Cedar Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Cedar Mills is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Mills
- Sherwood Shores
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Sherwood Shores is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood Shores
- Collin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Van Alstyne
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Mantua ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mantua is located in Collin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
- Sedalia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Sedalia is located in Collin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
- Cooke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Dexter
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Dexter is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
- Callisburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Callisburg is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callisburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 367 people
- Coesfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Coesfield is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coesfield
- Oak Ridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Ridge is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 255 people
- Custer City ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Custer City is located in Cooke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer City
- Lake Kiowa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fannin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Mulberry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Mulberry is located in Fannin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Savoy
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ravenna
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sowells Bluff
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Sowells Bluff is located in Fannin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sowells Bluff
- Ridings
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Ridings is located in Fannin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridings
- Whitewright
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ector
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Ivanhoe
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Boyd
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Boyd is located in Fannin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
- Orangeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Orangeville is located in Fannin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orangeville
- Bonham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Edhube
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Edhube is located in Fannin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edhube
- Randolph
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bryan County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Cartwright
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Colbert
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Platter
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Achille
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Hendrix
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Calera
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kemp
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Mead
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Silo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Silo is located in Bryan County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 370 people
- Durant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Yarnaby
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Yarnaby is located in Bryan County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yarnaby
- Yuba
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Yuba is located in Bryan County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuba
- Armstrong
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Armstrong is located in Bryan County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Johnston County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Bee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Bee is located in Johnston County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
- Milburn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Tishomingo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Marshall County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- McBride
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- McBride is located in Marshall County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBride
- New Woodville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- New Woodville is located in Marshall County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Woodville
- Population from the 2010 Census: 132 people
- Kingston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shay
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shay is located in Marshall County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shay
- Cumberland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Cumberland is located in Marshall County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Little City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Little City is located in Marshall County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little City
- Madill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lebanon
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland is located in Marshall County (OK)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,161 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ray, see our County-by-County Page for Ray.
Cemeteries Near Ray ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ray.
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 Ray - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ray covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Brown Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Magnolia Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Fairview Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Coffman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Shannon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Calvary Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Denison.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2711 <2>
- Yarbrough Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Garden of Memory Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden of Memory Cemetery
- The Garden of Memory Cemetery has also been known as:
- Colbert Cemetery
- Colbert Garden of Memory Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #98491 <2>
- Holder Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Campbell Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lankford Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lankford Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Lankford Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<3> to the east of Denison.
- The Lankford Cemetery has also been known as:
- Langford Cemetery
- Papaw Hill Cemetery
- Paw Paw Hill Cemetery
- Shiloh Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #4747 <2>
- Continue List (281 more) ...
- Preston Bend Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mayrant Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayrant Cemetery
- The Mayrant Cemetery has also been known as:
- Mayrant / Potts Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #5086 <2>
- Government Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Ray had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Denison
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Preston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Preston is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston
- Sherman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Steedham
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Steedham is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steedham
- Cedar Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Cedar Mills is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Mills
- Luella
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Luella is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luella
- Ida
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Ida is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ida
- Bells
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Basin Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Basin Springs is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Basin Springs
- Southmayd
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mulberry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Mulberry is located in Fannin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Gordonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Savoy
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Sadler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Mormon Grove ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Mormon Grove is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mormon Grove
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ray. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ray.
Newspapers Published in Ray ...
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 84 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ray.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ray, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ray.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Ray:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Grayson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Collin County
- Cooke County
- Fannin County
- Bryan County
- Johnston County
- Marshall County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Texas
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 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. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Ray) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Ray, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |