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 Rock Hill (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 Rock Hill. 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 Rock Hill ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Rockhill.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Rock Hill. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Rock Hill.
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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Rock Hill is located in Cherokee 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 Cherokee County: Anderson, Angelina, Henderson, Houston, Nacogdoches, Rusk & Smith.
Below are the counties that are near Rock Hill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rock Hill:
- Cherokee County (The home county of Rock Hill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Hill, with the one closest to Rock Hill listed first.
- Griffin
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Griffin is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- New Summerfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Ponta
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ponta is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponta
- Blackjack
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Blackjack is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackjack
- Reklaw
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Henrys Chapel
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Henrys Chapel is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrys Chapel
- Gould
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gould is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Gallatin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Turney
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Turney is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turney
- Mixon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mixon is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixon
- Troup
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dialville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dialville is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dialville
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Hill, with the one closest to Rock Hill listed first.
- Herring
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Herring is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herring
- Todd City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Todd City is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todd City
- Jarvis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Jarvis is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarvis
- Frankston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Neches
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Pert
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Pert is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pert
- Gregg County
- Kilgore
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Hill, with the one closest to Rock Hill listed first.
- Berryville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Berryville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,066 people
- Coffee City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Coffee City is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
- Houston County
- Bluff City ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bluff City is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Nacogdoches County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Hill, with the one closest to Rock Hill listed first.
- Sacul
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dextra
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dextra is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dextra
- Cushing
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Looneyville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Looneyville is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Looneyville
- Nat
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Nat is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nat
- Trawick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Trawick is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trawick
- Douglass
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Redfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Redfield is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfield
- Alazan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Alazan is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alazan
- Appleby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Appleby is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
- Panola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Hill, with the one closest to Rock Hill listed first.
- Long Branch
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Dotson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Dotson is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotson
- Rusk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Hill, with the one closest to Rock Hill listed first.
- New Salem
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Salem is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Big Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Big Springs is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Laneville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Price
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Oak Flats
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Oak Flats is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Flats
- Selman City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Turnertown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Turnertown is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnertown
- Joinerville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sulphur Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Minden
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Henderson
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Friars
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Friars is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friars
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Hill, with the one closest to Rock Hill listed first.
- Sinclair City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Sinclair City is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinclair City
- Wright City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Wright City is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright City
- Arp
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Omen
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Omen is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omen
- Whitehouse
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- New Chapel Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- New Chapel Hill is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Chapel Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 667 people
- Flint
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Jamestown ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Jamestown is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Jamestown has also been known as:
- Jimtown
- Teaselville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Teaselville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaselville
- Gresham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gresham is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Lee Spring
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lee Spring is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Spring
- Browning
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Browning is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rock Hill, see our County-by-County Page for Rock Hill.
Cemeteries Near Rock Hill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rock Hill.
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 Rock Hill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rock Hill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rock Hill, with the one closest to Rock Hill listed first.
- Union Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Wiggins Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Myrtle Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Union Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Medford Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Boatright Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- McDonald Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Walkers Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Moore Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Griffin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Plains Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Garrett Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (303 more) ...
- Fitch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Walker Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Vaughn Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
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 Rock Hill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rock Hill.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rock Hill, with the one closest to Rock Hill listed first.
- Lone Star
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Lone Star is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
- New Salem
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Salem is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Griffin
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Griffin is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- Glenfawn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Glenfawn is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenfawn
- Laneville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Troup
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mixon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mixon is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixon
- Rusk
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- New Birmingham ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- New Birmingham is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Birmingham
- Jacksonville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Mount Selman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Selman is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Selman
- Omen
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Omen is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omen
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Looneyville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Looneyville is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Looneyville
- Minden
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Henderson
(18 miles [29 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 Rock Hill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rock Hill.
Newspapers Published in Rock Hill ...
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 58 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rock Hill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rock Hill, 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 Rock Hill.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Rock Hill:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Cherokee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Gregg County
- Henderson County
- Houston County
- Nacogdoches County
- Panola County
- Rusk County
- Smith 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> | 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 Rock Hill, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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- Rock Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |