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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 Shirley Creek (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 Shirley Creek. 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.

Name Variations for Shirley Creek ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Shirley Creek: Shirley Crk. (or less commonly used: Shirley Ck. or Shirley Cr.)

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Shirley Creek is located in Nacogdoches 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 Nacogdoches County: Angelina, Cherokee, Rusk, San Augustine & Shelby.

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

  • Nacogdoches County     (The home county of Shirley Creek)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley Creek, with the one closest to Shirley Creek listed first.
    • Etoile
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Chireno
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Woden
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Attoyac
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Attoyac is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attoyac
    • Swift
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Swift is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift
    • Martinsville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Nacogdoches
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Alazan
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Alazan is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alazan
    • Appleby
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Appleby is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
    • Redfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Redfield is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfield
  • Angelina County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley Creek, with the one closest to Shirley Creek listed first.
    • Ora
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Ora is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
    • Boynton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Boynton is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Ewing
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Ewing is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewing
    • Oak Flat
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Oak Flat is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Flat
    • Thomas Crossing
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Thomas Crossing is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Crossing
    • Zavalla
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Alco
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Alco is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alco
    • Huntington
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Dunagan
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Dunagan is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunagan
    • Rocky Springs
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Rocky Springs is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Springs
    • Platt
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Platt is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platt
    • Nancy
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Nancy is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nancy
    • Dolan
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Dolan is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolan
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley Creek, with the one closest to Shirley Creek listed first.
    • Harveytown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Harveytown is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harveytown
    • Sam Rayburn
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Browndell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Browndell is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browndell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
  • Polk County
    • Barnum
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Barnum is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnum
  • Sabine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley Creek, with the one closest to Shirley Creek listed first.
    • Bronson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Pineland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Rosevine
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Rosevine is located in Sabine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosevine
    • Brookeland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Geneva
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • San Augustine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley Creek, with the one closest to Shirley Creek listed first.
    • Broaddus
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Zana ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Zana is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zana
    • White City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • White City is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Denning
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Denning is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
    • Maxey Town
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Maxey Town is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxey Town
    • Rebecca
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Rebecca is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rebecca
    • San Augustine
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Powell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Powell is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley Creek, with the one closest to Shirley Creek listed first.
    • Short
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Short is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
    • Choice
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Choice is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choice
  • Tyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley Creek, with the one closest to Shirley Creek listed first.
    • Colmesneil
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Peach Tree Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Peach Tree Village is located in Tyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peach Tree Village
    • Chester
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Shirley Creek ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shirley Creek.

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 Shirley Creek - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Wooten Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Smyrna Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Lowery Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Harvey Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Blue Spring Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Patterson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Cochran Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Shofner Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Brown Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Lee Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Sowell Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (248 more) ...
    • Harnington Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Fox Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Miley Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)

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.<3>

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

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

  • Ora
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Ora is located in Angelina County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
  • Etoile
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Zana ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Zana is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zana
  • Chireno
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Macune
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Macune is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macune
  • Woden
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Homer
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Homer is located in Angelina County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
  • Denning
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Denning is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
  • Melrose
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Melrose is located in Nacogdoches County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
  • Rockland
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Rockland is located in Tyler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
  • Lufkin
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Lufkin is located in Angelina County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lufkin
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 34,955 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lufkin <1>
  • Swift
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Swift is located in Nacogdoches County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift
  • Continue List   (11 more) ...
    • San Augustine
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Keltys
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Keltys is located in Angelina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keltys
    • Ironosa
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Ironosa is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironosa

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

Newspapers Published in Shirley Creek ...

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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shirley Creek.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shirley Creek, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shirley Creek.

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 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 Shirley Creek:

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>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.
<3>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 Shirley Creek, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Shirley Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.