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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 Silver Valley (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 Silver Valley. 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 Silver Valley ...

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.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might have occurred.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Silver Valley: Silver Vly. (or less commonly used: Silver Vally. or Silver Vlly.)

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 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 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.

Silver Valley is located in Coleman 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 Coleman County: Brown, Callahan, Concho, McCulloch, Runnels & Taylor.

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

  • Coleman County     (The home county of Silver Valley)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Silver Valley, with the one closest to Silver Valley listed first.
    • Novice
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Novice have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Novice
      • Novice is located in Coleman County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Novice <2>
    • Glen Cove
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Glen Cove. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Cove
      • Glen Cove is located in Coleman County
    • Goldsboro
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Goldsboro have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldsboro
      • Goldsboro is located in Coleman County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Goldsboro <2>
    • Coleman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Valera
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Valera have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valera
      • Valera is located in Coleman County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Valera <2>
    • Talpa
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Burkett
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Santa Anna
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Voss
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Voss. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voss
      • Voss is located in Coleman County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Voss <2>
    • Gouldbusk
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Brown County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Silver Valley, with the one closest to Silver Valley listed first.
    • Fry ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fry. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fry
      • Fry is located in Brown County
    • Cross Cut
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Cut
      • Cross Cut is located in Brown County
    • Bangs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bangs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangs
      • Bangs is located in Brown County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,504 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bangs <2>
  • Callahan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Silver Valley, with the one closest to Silver Valley listed first.
    • Denton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denton
      • Denton is located in Callahan County
      • Denton has also been known as:
      • Denton Valley
    • Rowden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowden
      • Rowden is located in Callahan County
    • Cross Plains
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Eula
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eula
      • Eula is located in Callahan County
    • Belle Plain ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Belle Plain. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Plain
      • Belle Plain is located in Callahan County
    • Cottonwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood
      • Cottonwood is located in Callahan County
  • Runnels County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Silver Valley, with the one closest to Silver Valley listed first.
    • Winters
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Winters have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winters
      • Winters is located in Runnels County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,469 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Winters <2>
    • Ballinger
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Taylor County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Silver Valley, with the one closest to Silver Valley listed first.
    • Lawn
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Ovalo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ovalo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ovalo
      • Ovalo is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ovalo <2>
    • Guion
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Guion have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guion
      • Guion is located in Taylor County
    • Tuscola
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tuscola have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuscola
      • Tuscola is located in Taylor County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 735 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tuscola <2>
    • Potosi
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Potosi have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potosi
      • Potosi is located in Taylor County
    • Buffalo Gap
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Gap
      • Buffalo Gap is located in Taylor County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people

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

Cemeteries Near Silver Valley ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Silver Valley.

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

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

  • Silver Valley Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Mount View Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Rough Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Rough Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rough Creek Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Rough Creek Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Atoka Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Glen Cove Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Midway Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Midway Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Midway Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Herring Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Walker Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Walker Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Walker Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Crews Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Crews Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Crews Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 12 miles [19.3 km]<4> to the west of Winters.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #3114 <5>
  • Coleman Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Old Valera Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (46 more) ...
    • Counts Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Counts Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Counts Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Talpa Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Valera Cemetery
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)

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 in 1895, Silver Valley had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Novice
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Novice have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Novice
    • Novice is located in Coleman County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Novice <2>
  • Glen Cove
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Glen Cove. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Cove
    • Glen Cove is located in Coleman County
  • Coleman
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Valera
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Valera have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valera
    • Valera is located in Coleman County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Valera <2>
  • Talpa
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Santa Anna
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Burkett
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
  • Guion
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Guion have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guion
    • Guion is located in Taylor County
  • Cross Cut
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Cut
    • Cross Cut is located in Brown County
  • Winters
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Winters have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winters
    • Winters is located in Runnels County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,469 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Winters <2>
  • Cross Plains
    (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Thrifty
    (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Thrifty have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thrifty
    • Thrifty is located in Brown County
  • Continue List   (7 more) ...
    • Cottonwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood
      • Cottonwood is located in Callahan County
    • Belle Plain ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Belle Plain. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Plain
      • Belle Plain is located in Callahan County
    • Ballinger
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Silver Valley ...

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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Silver Valley.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Silver Valley, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Silver Valley.

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 Silver Valley:

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

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>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- Silver Valley) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Silver Valley. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 31.9565, Longitude: -99.5462       In this case, the coordinates for Silver Valley have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>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.
<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 Silver Valley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025