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 Sardis (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 Sardis. 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/Parishes ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties/parishes.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast 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 north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties/parishes 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 north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties/parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Sardis is located in Shelby 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 Shelby County: De Soto (LA), Sabine (LA), Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine & San Augustine.
Below are the counties/parishes that are near Sardis. For each of these counties/parishes, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sardis:
- Shelby County (The home county of Sardis)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sardis, with the one closest to Sardis listed first.
- Shelbyville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Campti
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Campti is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campti
- Africa ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Africa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
- Center
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Choice
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Choice is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choice
- Short
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Short is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
- Joaquin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Haslam
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Haslam is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haslam
- Huxley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Huxley is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huxley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
- Tenaha
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Arcadia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Arcadia is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Timpson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Nacogdoches County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sardis, with the one closest to Sardis listed first.
- Martinsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Attoyac
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Attoyac is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attoyac
- Garrison
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Chireno
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fitze
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Fitze is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitze
- Whispering Pines
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Whispering Pines is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Pines
- Swift
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Swift is located in Nacogdoches County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift
- Appleby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- 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 Sardis, with the one closest to Sardis listed first.
- Woods
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Woods is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods
- Gary City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Murvaul
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Murvaul is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murvaul
- Buncome
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Buncome is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buncome
- Carthage
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dotson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dotson is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotson
- Midyett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Midyett is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midyett
- Clayton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rusk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sardis, with the one closest to Sardis listed first.
- Caledonia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Caledonia is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Concord
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Concord is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Sabine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sardis, with the one closest to Sardis listed first.
- Geneva
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rosevine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Rosevine is located in Sabine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosevine
- Milam
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- San Augustine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sardis, with the one closest to Sardis listed first.
- San Augustine
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Denning
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Denning is located in San Augustine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
- Maxey Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Maxey Town is located in San Augustine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxey Town
- Rebecca
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Rebecca is located in San Augustine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rebecca
- De Soto Parish (LA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sardis, with the one closest to Sardis listed first.
- Logansport
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Stanley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Stanley is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Longstreet
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Screamerville ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Screamerville is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screamerville
- Grand Cane
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- South Mansfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- South Mansfield is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Mansfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
- Keachi
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Keachi is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keachi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
- Oxford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Oxford is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
- Mansfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pelican
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sabine Parish (LA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sardis, with the one closest to Sardis listed first.
- Converse
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Noble
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Zwolle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hamlin ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hamlin is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sardis, see our County-by-County Page for Sardis.
Cemeteries Near Sardis ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sardis.
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 Sardis - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sardis covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sardis, with the one closest to Sardis listed first.
- Oaklawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie View Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Smith Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Price Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Asbury Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mull Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Center Ridge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Biggers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cannon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Price Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- North Jericho Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Henrietta Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (214 more) ...
- Creech Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- McWilliams Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sample Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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 Sardis in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sardis.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sardis, with the one closest to Sardis listed first.
- Shelbyville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Center
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Short
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Short is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
- Joaquin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Logansport
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Tenaha
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Huber
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Huber is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huber
- Patroon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Patroon is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patroon
- Ironosa
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ironosa is located in San Augustine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironosa
- Woods
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Woods is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods
- San Augustine
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Sexton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sexton is located in Sabine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Lula
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lula is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lula
- Cook ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cook is located in De Soto Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook
- Timpson
(19 miles [30.6 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 Sardis. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sardis.
Newspapers Published in Sardis ...
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 59 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sardis.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sardis, 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 Sardis.
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 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 Sardis:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Nacogdoches County
- Panola County
- Rusk County
- Sabine County
- San Augustine County
- De Soto Parish
- Sabine Parish
- 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 Sardis, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Sardis) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |