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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 Sharp (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 Sharp. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.

Sharp is located in Milam 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 Milam County: Bell, Burleson, Falls, Lee, Robertson & Williamson.

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

  • Milam County     (The home county of Sharp)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sharp, with the one closest to Sharp listed first.
    • Tracy
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Tracy is located in Milam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy
    • Val Verde
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Val Verde is located in Milam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Val Verde
    • Davilla
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Buckholts
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Thorndale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Minerva
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Minerva is located in Milam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minerva
    • Rockdale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Cameron
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Marlow
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Marlow is located in Milam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Silver City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Silver City is located in Milam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
    • Milano
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Burlington
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Bastrop County
    • Elgin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Elgin is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,756 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elgin <1>
  • Bell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sharp, with the one closest to Sharp listed first.
    • Vilas
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Vilas is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilas
    • Edgeworth
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Edgeworth is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgeworth
    • Rogers
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Meeks
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Meeks is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeks
    • Bartlett
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Holland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Sparks
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Sparks is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparks
    • Cyclone
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Cyclone is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cyclone
    • Academy
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Academy is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Academy
    • Little River Academy
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Little River Academy is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little River Academy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,048 people
    • Heidenheimer
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Little River
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Burleson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sharp, with the one closest to Sharp listed first.
    • Chriesman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • San Antonio Prairie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • San Antonio Prairie is located in Burleson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Antonio Prairie
  • Falls County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sharp, with the one closest to Sharp listed first.
    • Barclay
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Barclay is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barclay
    • Zipperlandville ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Zipperlandville is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zipperlandville
      • Zipperlandville has also been known as:
      • Zipperlen
      • Zipperlenville
    • Rosebud
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Westphalia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Westphalia is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westphalia
    • Wilderville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Wilderville is located in Falls County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilderville
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sharp, with the one closest to Sharp listed first.
    • Hicks
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Hicks is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks
    • Tanglewood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Tanglewood is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewood
    • Blue
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Blue is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue
    • Lexington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Knobbs Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Knobbs Springs is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knobbs Springs
    • Fedor
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Fedor is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fedor
  • Travis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sharp, with the one closest to Sharp listed first.
    • Cele
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cele is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cele
    • Manda ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Manda is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manda
  • Williamson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sharp, with the one closest to Sharp listed first.
    • Laneport
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Laneport is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laneport
    • Friendship ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Friendship is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
    • Hoxie
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Hoxie is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoxie
    • Thrall
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Thrall is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thrall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,014 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Thrall <1>
    • Granger
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Beyersville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Beyersville is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beyersville
    • Taylor
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Taylor is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,921 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Taylor <1>
    • Schwertner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Coupland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Walburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Weir
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Weir is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weir
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 549 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Weir <1>
    • Hutto
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Hutto is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutto
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 29,987 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hutto <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Sharp ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sharp.

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

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

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

  • Graves Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Urban Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Sharp Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Grantham - Miles Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Lilac Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Old Lilac - Black Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Hernando Gonzalez Familia Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Felton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Moss Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Tracy Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Norman Valley Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • T K Wilson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (288 more) ...
    • Dotson Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • San Andres Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Holtzclaw Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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.<4>

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

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

  • San Gabriel
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • San Gabriel is located in Milam County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Gabriel
  • Davilla
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Laneport
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Laneport is located in Williamson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laneport
  • Buckholts
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Thorndale
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Minerva
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Minerva is located in Milam County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minerva
  • Vilas
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Vilas is located in Bell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilas
  • Rockdale
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Donahoe
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Donahoe is located in Bell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donahoe
  • Cameron
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Rogers
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Bartlett
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Hicks
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Hicks is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks
    • Milano
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Ben Arnold
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Ben Arnold is located in Milam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ben Arnold

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

Newspapers Published in Sharp ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sharp.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sharp, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sharp.

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 Sharp:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Sharp) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 Sharp, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.