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 Salem (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 Salem. 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 doctors and 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.
Salem 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 Salem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Salem:
- Cherokee County (The home county of Salem)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- New Birmingham ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- New Birmingham is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Birmingham
- Rusk
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Dialville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dialville is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dialville
- Alto
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Gallatin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ponta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Ponta is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponta
- Turney
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Turney is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turney
- Maydelle
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Reklaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Weeping Mary
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Weeping Mary is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeping Mary
- New Summerfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Jacksonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Herring
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Herring is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herring
- Jarvis
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Jarvis is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarvis
- Alderbranch
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Alderbranch is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alderbranch
- Mound City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mound City is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
- Slocum
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Slocum is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
- Crystal Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Crystal Lake is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lake
- Kossuth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Kossuth is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kossuth
- Todd City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Todd City is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todd City
- Neches
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Deanwright
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Deanwright is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deanwright
- Salmon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Salmon is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salmon
- Wells Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Wells Creek is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells Creek
- Angelina County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Pollok
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Redtown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Redtown is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redtown
- Durant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Durant is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durant
- Central
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Central is located in Angelina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Henderson County
- Berryville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Berryville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,066 people
- Houston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Bluff City ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Bluff City is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Weches
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Weches is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weches
- Tadmor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Tadmor is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tadmor
- Refuge
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Refuge is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Refuge
- Belott
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Belott is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belott
- Harrison Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Harrison Town is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison Town
- Ratcliff
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Kennard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Grapeland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hagerville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hagerville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagerville
- Hickory Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hickory Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Creek
- Fog Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Fog Town is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fog Town
- Nacogdoches County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Dextra
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Dextra is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dextra
- Sacul
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Douglass
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Cushing
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Looneyville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Looneyville is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Looneyville
- Nat
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Nat is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nat
- Trawick
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Trawick is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trawick
- Alazan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Alazan is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alazan
- Redfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Redfield is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfield
- Nacogdoches
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rusk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- New Salem
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- New Salem is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Big Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Big Springs is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Sulphur Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Laneville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Flats
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Flats is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Flats
- Mount Enterprise
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Price
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Minden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Sinclair City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Sinclair City is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinclair City
- Teaselville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Teaselville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaselville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Salem, see our County-by-County Page for Salem.
Cemeteries Near Salem ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Salem.
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 Salem - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Salem covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Salem Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Weems Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Mosley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Nelson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Russell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Russell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kilgore Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Bradford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Old Prison Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hogg Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Macedonia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (322 more) ...
- Meredith Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- State Hospital Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Parks Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<2>
While we didn't find Salem in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Salem.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- New Birmingham ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- New Birmingham is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Birmingham
- Rusk
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Alto
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Linwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Linwood is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- Lone Star
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lone Star is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
- Weches
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Weches is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weches
- Douglass
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Jacksonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Salem
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- New Salem is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Looneyville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Looneyville is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Looneyville
- Forest
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Forest is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest
- Alderbranch
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Alderbranch is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alderbranch
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Augusta
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Augusta is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augusta
- Glenfawn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Glenfawn is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenfawn
- Griffin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Griffin is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Salem. See our List of 1890's Communities around Salem.
Newspapers Published in Salem ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Salem.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Salem, 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 Salem.
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 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 Salem:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Cherokee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Angelina County
- Henderson County
- Houston County
- Nacogdoches 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 Salem, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Salem) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |