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 Smithson 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 Smithson 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 Smithson 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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Smithson Valley: Smithson Vly. (or less commonly used: Smithson Vally. or Smithson 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 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.
Smithson Valley is located in Comal 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 Comal County: Bexar, Blanco, Guadalupe, Hays & Kendall.
Below are the counties that are near Smithson Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smithson Valley:
- Comal County (The home county of Smithson Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithson Valley, with the one closest to Smithson Valley listed first.
- Startzville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Startzville is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Startzville
- Canyon Lake Forest
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Canyon Lake Forest is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon Lake Forest
- Canyon Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Canyon Springs is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon Springs
- Westhaven
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Westhaven is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westhaven
- Bulverde East ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bulverde East is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bulverde East
- Bulverde
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Canyon Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cranes Mill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Cranes Mill is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranes Mill
- Spring Branch
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bulverde South ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bulverde South is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bulverde South
- Anhalt
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Anhalt is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anhalt
- Canyon City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Canyon City is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon City
- Honey Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Honey Creek is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
- Bexar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithson Valley, with the one closest to Smithson Valley listed first.
- Timberwood Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Timberwood Park is located in Bexar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberwood Park
- Selma
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Cibolo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Live Oak
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Schertz
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Wetmore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hollywood Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Universal City
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Hill Country Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hill Country Village is located in Bexar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Country Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,110 people
- Airport City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Airport City is located in Bexar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airport City
- Dominion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dominion is located in Bexar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dominion
- Fair Oaks Ranch
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Converse
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Blanco County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithson Valley, with the one closest to Smithson Valley listed first.
- Twin Sisters
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Twin Sisters is located in Blanco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Sisters
- Blanco
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Flugrath ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Flugrath is located in Blanco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flugrath
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithson Valley, with the one closest to Smithson Valley listed first.
- Martindale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Reedville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Reedville is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedville
- Guadalupe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithson Valley, with the one closest to Smithson Valley listed first.
- Northcliff
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Northcliff is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northcliff
- Haeckerville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Haeckerville is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haeckerville
- Lake Dunlap
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Dunlap is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Dunlap
- Camp Willow
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Camp Willow is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Willow
- Clear Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Clear Springs is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Springs
- Santa Clara
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Santa Clara is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Clara
- Population from the 2020 Census: 745 people
- Schumannsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Schumannsville is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schumannsville
- Marion
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Barbarosa
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Barbarosa is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barbarosa
- Hilda Siding
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hilda Siding is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilda Siding
- Zorn
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Zorn is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zorn
- McQueeney
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Geronimo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hays County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithson Valley, with the one closest to Smithson Valley listed first.
- Pleasant Valley Crossing
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cloptins Crossing
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cloptins Crossing is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloptins Crossing
- Pioneer Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Pioneer Town is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Town
- Wimberley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Woodcreek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Woodcreek is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodcreek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,758 people
- San Marcos
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Mount Gainor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Gainor is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gainor
- Henly
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Henly is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henly
- Driftwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dripping Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kyle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain City is located in Hays County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 858 people
- Kendall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithson Valley, with the one closest to Smithson Valley listed first.
- Bergheim
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Kendalia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ammans Crossing ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Ammans Crossing is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ammans Crossing
- Kreutzberg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Kreutzberg is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kreutzberg
- Boerne
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Sisterdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Nelson City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Nelson City is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson City
- Welfare
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Welfare is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welfare
- Waring
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Smithson Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Smithson Valley.
Cemeteries Near Smithson Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smithson 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.
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 Smithson Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Smithson Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Smithson Valley, with the one closest to Smithson Valley listed first.
- Smithson Valley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Weidner Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Heimer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kraft Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jonas Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Grave Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Rust Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cranes Mill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Simon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Beierle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hitzfelder Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Schlather Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (175 more) ...
- Weidner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Voges Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vogel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Smithson Valley had a population of 42 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Smithson Valley, with the one closest to Smithson Valley listed first.
- Cranes Mill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Cranes Mill is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranes Mill
- Spring Branch
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Anhalt
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Anhalt is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anhalt
- Sattler
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sattler is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sattler
- Corbyn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Corbyn is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corbyn
- Twin Sisters
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Twin Sisters is located in Blanco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Sisters
- Bracken
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bracken is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bracken
- New Braunfels
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Selma
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Kendalia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wetmore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cibolo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Hunter
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Hunter is located in Comal County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Van Raub
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Van Raub is located in Bexar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Raub
- Clear Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Clear Springs is located in Guadalupe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Springs
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Smithson Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Smithson Valley.
Newspapers Published in Smithson 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 204 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smithson Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smithson Valley, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smithson 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 Smithson Valley:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Comal County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bexar County
- Blanco County
- Caldwell County
- Guadalupe County
- Hays County
- Kendall County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Texas
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 drawn from Point A (ie- Smithson Valley) 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 Smithson Valley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |