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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 Shiner (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 Shiner. 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.

Shiner is located in Lavaca 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 Lavaca County: Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Gonzales, Jackson, Victoria & Wharton.

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

  • Lavaca County     (The home county of Shiner)
  • Bastrop County
    • Jeddo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Jeddo. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
      • Jeddo is located in Bastrop County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Jeddo
      • From Shiner to Jeddo
  • Caldwell County
  • Colorado County
  • DeWitt County
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shiner, with the one closest to Shiner listed first.
    • Praha
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Flatonia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Engle
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Colony
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Colony. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
      • Colony is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Colony
      • From Shiner to Colony
    • Schulenburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Freyburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Freyburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freyburg
      • Freyburg is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Freyburg
      • From Shiner to Freyburg
    • Cistern
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Muldoon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Dubina ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Dubina. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dubina
      • Dubina is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Dubina
      • From Shiner to Dubina
  • Gonzales County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shiner, with the one closest to Shiner listed first.
    • Kokernot
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kokernot. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kokernot
      • Kokernot is located in Gonzales County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Kokernot
      • From Shiner to Kokernot
    • Glaze City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glaze City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glaze City
      • Glaze City is located in Gonzales County
    • Hamon
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Cheapside
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Gonzales
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Waelder
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Cost
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cost have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cost
      • Cost is located in Gonzales County
    • Sandy Fork
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Wrightsboro
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wrightsboro have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsboro
      • Wrightsboro is located in Gonzales County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wrightsboro <3>
    • Harwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Forest
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Oak Forest. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Forest
      • Oak Forest is located in Gonzales County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Oak Forest
      • From Shiner to Oak Forest
    • Monthalia ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Monthalia have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monthalia
      • Monthalia is located in Gonzales County

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

Cemeteries Near Shiner ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shiner.

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 Shiner covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • San Pedro Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the San Pedro Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the San Pedro Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Shiner Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Shiner Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Shiner Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Bunjus Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bunjus Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bunjus Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Sons of Hermann Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pleasant Grove Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Restland Memorial Park
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Sweet Home City Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sweet Home City Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sweet Home City Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Charlottenburg Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Charlottenburg Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Charlottenburg Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Stonewall Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Stonewall Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Stonewall Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Queen of Peace Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Queen of Peace Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Queen of Peace Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Witting Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Dilworth Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Dilworth Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Dilworth Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (149 more) ...
    • Guadalupe Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Sweet Home Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sweet Home Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sweet Home Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Slavonic Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Slavonic Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Slavonic Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Shiner had a population of 340 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Shiner had a population of 2,174 people.

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

  • Kokernot
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kokernot. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kokernot
    • Kokernot is located in Gonzales County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Kokernot
    • From Shiner to Kokernot
  • Wied
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wied. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wied
    • Wied is located in Lavaca County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Wied
    • From Shiner to Wied
  • Sweet Home
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sweet Home have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Home
    • Sweet Home is located in Lavaca County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sweet Home <3>
  • Witting
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Witting have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witting
    • Witting is located in Lavaca County
  • Yoakum
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Nickel ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nickel have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nickel
    • Nickel is located in Gonzales County
  • Hochheim
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Moulton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Hamon
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Breslau
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Williamsburg
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Williamsburg have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
    • Williamsburg is located in Lavaca County
  • Hallettsville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Concrete
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Concrete have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concrete
      • Concrete is located in DeWitt County
    • Edgar
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Moravia
      (15 miles [24.1 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 Shiner. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shiner.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Shiner ...

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 Shiner.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Shiner. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Shiner and those printed in the larger area surrounding Shiner.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6> of Shiner.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Shiner:

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

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

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>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.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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>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 Shiner, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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- Shiner) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Shiner. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 29.4289, Longitude: -97.1707    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025