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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 Shelby (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 Shelby. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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 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, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Shelby is located in Austin County.

To see how the shape of Texas' counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Austin County: Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Waller, Washington & Wharton.

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

  • Austin County     (The home county of Shelby)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
    • Industry
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Industry have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
      • Industry is located in Austin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Industry <2>
    • Bleiblerville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bleiblerville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bleiblerville
      • Bleiblerville is located in Austin County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bleiblerville <2>
    • New Ulm
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • New Wehdem
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for New Wehdem. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Wehdem
      • New Wehdem is located in Austin County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to New Wehdem
      • From Shelby to New Wehdem
    • Kenney
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kenney have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenney
      • Kenney is located in Austin County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kenney <2>
    • Sempronius ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sempronius have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sempronius
      • Sempronius is located in Austin County
    • Bellville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Cat Spring
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cat Spring have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cat Spring
      • Cat Spring is located in Austin County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cat Spring <2>
    • Buckhorn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Millheim
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Millheim. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millheim
      • Millheim is located in Austin County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Millheim
      • From Shelby to Millheim
    • Rexville ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rexville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rexville
      • Rexville is located in Austin County
  • Burleson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
    • Somerville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Scofield ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Scofield have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scofield
      • Scofield is located in Burleson County
    • Lyons
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Frenstat
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Deanville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Clay
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clay have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay
      • Clay is located in Burleson County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clay <2>
    • Merle ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Merle. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merle
      • Merle is located in Burleson County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Merle
      • From Shelby to Merle
  • Colorado County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
    • Pisek ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pisek have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisek
      • Pisek is located in Colorado County
    • Frelsburg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Hillcrest
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Alleyton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Columbus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Glidden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Borden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Borden. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden
      • Borden is located in Colorado County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Borden
      • From Shelby to Borden
    • Weimar
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • New Bielau ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for New Bielau. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Bielau
      • New Bielau is located in Colorado County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to New Bielau
      • From Shelby to New Bielau
    • Ramsey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ramsey. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramsey
      • Ramsey is located in Colorado County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Ramsey
      • From Shelby to Ramsey
  • Fayette County
  • Lee County
  • Waller County
    • Saint Paul
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Paul have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
      • Saint Paul is located in Waller County
  • Washington County

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

Cemeteries Near Shelby ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shelby.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Schmidt Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Schmidt Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Schmidt Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Kraus Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Kraus Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Kraus Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Burkhardt Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Burkhardt Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Burkhardt Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mayer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Albert Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Albert Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Albert Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Pagel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pagel Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pagel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Latium Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Latium Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Latium Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Becker Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Becker Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Becker Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Weyand Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Weyand Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Weyand Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Richter Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Richter Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Richter Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jaeger - Witte Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Jaeger - Witte Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Jaeger - Witte Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Halamicek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (246 more) ...
    • Halimecek Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Halimecek Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Halimecek Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Knolle Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Knolle Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Knolle Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Wesley Brethren Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Shelby had a population of 165 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Haw Creek ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Haw Creek have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haw Creek
    • Haw Creek is located in Fayette County
  • Latium
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Latium have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latium
    • Latium is located in Washington County
  • Industry
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Industry have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
    • Industry is located in Austin County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Industry <2>
  • Welcome
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Welcome have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welcome
    • Welcome is located in Austin County
  • Wesley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Greenvine
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Greenvine. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenvine
    • Greenvine is located in Washington County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Greenvine
    • From Shelby to Greenvine
  • Round Top
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Warrenton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • La Bahia
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Fayetteville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fayetteville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
    • Fayetteville is located in Fayette County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fayetteville <2>
  • Walhalla
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Frelsburg
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Shelby ...

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 84 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shelby.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shelby, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shelby.

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 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 Shelby:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Shelby. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Austin County: www.austincounty.com/

The official website for State of Texas: https://texas.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>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 from Point A (ie- Shelby) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Shelby. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 30.0230, Longitude: -96.5981       In this case, the coordinates for Shelby have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>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 Shelby, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025