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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 Smithville (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 Smithville. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Smithville is located in Gonzales 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 Gonzales County: Bastrop, Caldwell, DeWitt, Fayette, Guadalupe, Karnes, Lavaca & Wilson.

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

  • Gonzales County     (The home county of Smithville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Oak Forest
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Oak Forest is located in Gonzales County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Forest
    • Monthalia ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Monthalia is located in Gonzales County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monthalia
    • Belmont
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Ottine
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Bebe
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Cost
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Cost is located in Gonzales County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cost
    • Gonzales
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Summerville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Summerville is located in Gonzales County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
    • Wrightsboro
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Harwood
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Leesville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Sandy Fork
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Sandy Fork is located in Gonzales County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Fork
    • Dewville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Dewville is located in Gonzales County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewville
  • Bastrop County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Jeddo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Jeddo is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
    • Bateman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Bateman is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bateman
  • Caldwell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Luling
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • McNeil
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • McNeil is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNeil
    • Soda Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Soda Springs is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soda Springs
    • Stairtown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Stairtown is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stairtown
    • Prairie Lea
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Brownsboro
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Brownsboro is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsboro
    • Joliet
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Joliet is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joliet
    • Mineral Springs ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Mineral Springs is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
    • Fentress
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Tilmon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Tilmon is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilmon
    • Seawillow
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Seawillow is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seawillow
    • McMahan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • McMahan is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McMahan
    • Delhi
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Delhi is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
  • Comal County
    • Freiheit
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Freiheit is located in Comal County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freiheit
  • DeWitt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Hochheim
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Westhoff
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Pearl City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Pearl City is located in DeWitt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Cistern
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cistern is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cistern
      • Former names for Cistern:
      • Cockrell's Hill
      • Milton
      • Whiteside's Prairie
    • Colony
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Colony is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
  • Guadalupe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Kingsbury
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Weinert
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Weinert is located in Guadalupe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weinert
    • Dugger
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Dugger is located in Guadalupe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dugger
    • Lauback
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Lauback is located in Guadalupe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lauback
    • Seguin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Seguin is located in Guadalupe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seguin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 30,165 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Seguin <1>
    • Staples
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jakes Colony
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Jakes Colony is located in Guadalupe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jakes Colony
    • Galle
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Galle is located in Guadalupe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galle
    • Geronimo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Morrison Falls
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Morrison Falls is located in Guadalupe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison Falls
    • Zipp
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Zipp is located in Guadalupe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zipp
    • McQueeney
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Nolte
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Nolte is located in Guadalupe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nolte
  • Karnes County
  • Lavaca County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Moulton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Shiner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Wilson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Union
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Union is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Nockenut
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Nockenut is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nockenut
    • Caddo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Caddo is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caddo
    • Pandora
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Alum
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Alum is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alum
    • Stockdale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Denhawken
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Denhawken is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denhawken

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

Cemeteries Near Smithville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smithville.

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 Smithville - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Foster Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • King Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Ellis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Randle Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Hodge Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Storey Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Princeville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Burrls Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Stroman Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pecan Branch Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Ellis - Nance Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (185 more) ...
    • Liberty Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • McKeller Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • St. James Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)

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 Smithville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Smithville.

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

  • Oak Forest
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Oak Forest is located in Gonzales County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Forest
  • Belmont
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Slayden
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Slayden is located in Gonzales County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slayden
  • Gonzales
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Wrightsboro
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Luling
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Leesville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Harwood
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Sandy Fork
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Sandy Fork is located in Gonzales County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Fork
  • Kingsbury
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Prairie Lea
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Smiley
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Hamon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Hamon is located in Gonzales County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamon
    • Union
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Union is located in Wilson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Tilmon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Tilmon is located in Caldwell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilmon

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

Newspapers Published in Smithville ...

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 66 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smithville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smithville, 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 Smithville.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Smithville:

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 Smithville, 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 from Point A (ie- Smithville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.