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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 Sonoma (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 Sonoma. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Sonoma is located in Ellis 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 Ellis County: Dallas, Henderson, Hill, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro & Tarrant.

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

  • Ellis County     (The home county of Sonoma)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sonoma, with the one closest to Sonoma listed first.
    • Ennis
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Garrett
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Garrett is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 891 people
    • Crisp
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Crisp is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crisp
    • Alma
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Alma is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
    • Telico
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Telico is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Telico
    • Palmer
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Bardwell
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Boyce
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Boyce is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyce
    • Bristol
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Bristol is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
    • Ike
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Ike is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ike
    • Howard
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Howard is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard
    • Nash
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Nash is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sonoma, with the one closest to Sonoma listed first.
    • Ferris
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Combine
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Combine is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Combine
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,537 people
    • Wilmer
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Glenn Heights
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Lancaster
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Ovilla
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Hutchins
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Seagoville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Kleberg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Kleberg is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kleberg
    • DeSoto
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Shamrock
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Shamrock is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shamrock
    • Lawson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Lawson is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawson
  • Henderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sonoma, with the one closest to Sonoma listed first.
    • Seven Points
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Tool
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Tool is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tool
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,335 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tool <1>
    • Gun Barrel City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Payne Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Payne Springs is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 756 people
    • Enchanted Oaks
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Enchanted Oaks is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enchanted Oaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
  • Hill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sonoma, with the one closest to Sonoma listed first.
    • Mertens
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Brandon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Irene
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Kaufman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sonoma, with the one closest to Sonoma listed first.
    • Rosser
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Cottonwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Cottonwood is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
    • Styx
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Styx is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Styx
    • Grays Prairie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Grays Prairie is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grays Prairie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 388 people
    • Scurry
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Stubbs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Stubbs is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stubbs
    • Tolosa
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Tolosa is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolosa
    • Crandall
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Oak Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Oak Grove is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 704 people
    • Kemp
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Kemp is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,251 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kemp <1>
    • Kaufman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Becker
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Becker is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Becker
  • Navarro County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sonoma, with the one closest to Sonoma listed first.
    • Rice
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Rice is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 983 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rice <1>
    • Emhouse
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Emhouse is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emhouse
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
    • Chatfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Tupelo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Tupelo is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tupelo
    • Cryer Creek ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Cryer Creek is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cryer Creek
    • Barry
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Roane
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Roane is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roane
    • Blooming Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Corsicana
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Dresden
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Dresden is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresden
    • Oak Valley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Oak Valley is located in Navarro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Valley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
    • Frost
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Sonoma ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sonoma.

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

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

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

  • Myrtle Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Crisp Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Templeton Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Sanderson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Redwine Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Bardwell Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Lucille Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Union Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Boren Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Rice Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Palmer Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (143 more) ...
    • Grady Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Hefley Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Norman Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 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.<4>

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

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

  • Ennis
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Alma
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Alma is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
  • Palmer
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Boyce
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Boyce is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyce
  • Bristol
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Bristol is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
  • Rice
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Rice is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 983 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rice <1>
  • Nash
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Nash is located in Ellis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
  • Chatfield
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Avalon
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Ferris
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Cryer Creek ‑ Historic
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Cryer Creek is located in Navarro County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cryer Creek
  • Waxahachie
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Sterrett
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Sterrett is located in Ellis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterrett
    • Barry
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Wilmer
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Sonoma ...

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 86 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sonoma.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sonoma, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sonoma.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Sonoma:

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 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Sonoma) 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 Sonoma, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.