RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Texas >> Hill County >> Retreat >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Retreat (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 Retreat. 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 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.

Retreat is located in Hill 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 Hill County: Bosque, Ellis, Johnson, Limestone, McLennan & Navarro.

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

  • Hill County     (The home county of Retreat)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
    • Blum
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Huron ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Huron is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
    • Covington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Whitney
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Peoria
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Peoria is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
    • Itasca
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Lovelace
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Lovelace is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovelace
    • Hillsboro
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Carl's Corner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Carl's Corner is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl's Corner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
    • Aquilla
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Chatt
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Chatt is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatt
    • Tyson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Tyson is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyson
    • Abbott
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Bosque County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
    • Kimball
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Kimball is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
    • Kopperl
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Lakeside Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Lakeside Village is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside Village
    • Eulogy
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Eulogy is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulogy
    • Morgan
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Meridian
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Walnut Springs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Laguna Park
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Womack
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Womack is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womack
    • Cayote
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Cayote is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayote
    • Clifton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Iredell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Greenock
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Greenock is located in Bosque County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenock
  • Ellis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
    • Auburn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Auburn is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
    • Maypearl
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Venus
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Milford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Erath County
    • Chalk Mountain
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Chalk Mountain is located in Erath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Mountain
  • Hood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
    • Fort Spunky
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort Spunky is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Spunky
    • Pecan Plantation
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Pecan Plantation is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecan Plantation
    • Acton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • DeCordova
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • DeCordova is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeCordova
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,108 people
    • Hill City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Hill City is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill City
    • Paluxy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Cresson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Brazos Bend
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Brazos Bend is located in Hood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazos Bend
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
    • Granbury
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
    • Rio Vista
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bono
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Bono is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bono
    • Parker
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Parker is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
    • Cleburne
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Cuba
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Cuba is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
    • Coyote Flats
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Coyote Flats is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyote Flats
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 368 people
    • Grandview
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Keene
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
    • Godley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Joshua
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Alvarado
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Egan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Egan is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
    • Briaroaks
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Briaroaks is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briaroaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
  • Somervell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Retreat, with the one closest to Retreat listed first.
    • Nemo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Rainbow
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Glen Rose
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Glass
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Glass is located in Somervell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass

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

Cemeteries Near Retreat ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Retreat.

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

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

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

  • Dodson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Kyle Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Kopperl Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Live Oak Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Steiner Valley Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Baker Lain Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Grange Hall Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Heath Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Lafon Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Ft. Graham Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Nichols Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Stanford Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (115 more) ...
    • Brazos Point Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Pleasant View Memorial Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Ross Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)

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.<3>

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

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

  • Kimball
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Kimball is located in Bosque County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
  • Kopperl
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Blum
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Freeland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Freeland is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeland
  • Blanton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Blanton is located in Hill County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanton
  • Derden
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Derden is located in Hill County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derden
  • Rio Vista
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Brazos Point
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Brazos Point is located in Bosque County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazos Point
  • Eulogy
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Eulogy is located in Bosque County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulogy
  • Morgan
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Covington
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Bono
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Bono is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bono
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Osceola
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Osceola is located in Hill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
    • Georges Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Georges Creek is located in Somervell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georges Creek
    • Whitney
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Retreat ...

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 105 newspapers that have been published in the area around Retreat.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Retreat, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Retreat.

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 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 Retreat:

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>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 Retreat, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Retreat) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.