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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 Thedford (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 Thedford. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.

Thedford is located in Smith 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 Smith County: Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Upshur, Van Zandt & Wood.

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

  • Smith County     (The home county of Thedford)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thedford, with the one closest to Thedford listed first.
    • Lindale
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Swan
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Swan is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
    • Hideaway
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Hideaway is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hideaway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,208 people
    • Carroll
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Carroll is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Red Springs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Red Springs is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Springs
    • Garden Valley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Garden Valley is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Valley
    • Tyler
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Tyler is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyler
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 108,222 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tyler <1>
    • Jamestown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Jamestown is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
    • Winona
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Starrville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Starrville is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starrville
    • Noonday
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Noonday is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noonday
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 722 people
    • Gresham
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Gresham is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
  • Anderson County
    • Frankston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thedford, with the one closest to Thedford listed first.
    • Bullard
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Troup
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Troup is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troup
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,064 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Troup <1>
    • Cherokee Landing
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Cherokee Landing is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Landing
    • Larissa ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Larissa is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larissa
    • Mixon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Mixon is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixon
    • Mount Selman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Mount Selman is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Selman
    • Cuney
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Gregg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thedford, with the one closest to Thedford listed first.
    • Gladewater
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Liberty City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Liberty City is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
    • Warren City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Warren City is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
    • Clarksville City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Clarksville City is located in Gregg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 945 people
  • Henderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thedford, with the one closest to Thedford listed first.
    • Chandler
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Brownsboro
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Moore Station
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Moore Station is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Station
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 223 people
    • Leagueville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Leagueville is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leagueville
    • Coffee City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Coffee City is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
    • Murchison
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Berryville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Berryville is located in Henderson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,066 people
    • Poynor
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • LaRue
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Rusk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thedford, with the one closest to Thedford listed first.
    • Overton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Laird Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Sexton City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Sexton City is located in Rusk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton City
  • Upshur County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thedford, with the one closest to Thedford listed first.
    • Big Sandy
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Center Point
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Center Point is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
    • Wilkins
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Wilkins is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkins
    • Rhonesboro
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Rhonesboro is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhonesboro
    • Pritchett
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Pritchett is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pritchett
    • Rosewood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Rosewood is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosewood
    • Kelsey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Kelsey is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsey
    • Grice
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Grice is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grice
    • Union Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Union Grove is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
  • Van Zandt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thedford, with the one closest to Thedford listed first.
    • Edom
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Edom is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 387 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Edom <1>
    • Van
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Van is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,778 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Van <1>
    • Ben Wheeler
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Grand Saline
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Fruitvale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Canton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Canton is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,941 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Canton <1>
    • Tundra
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Tundra is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tundra
  • Wood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thedford, with the one closest to Thedford listed first.
    • Hawkins
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Mineola
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Hainesville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Hainesville is located in Wood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hainesville
    • Pine Mills
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Pine Mills is located in Wood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
    • Golden
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Quitman
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Forest Hill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Forest Hill is located in Wood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
    • Alba
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Cartwright
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Cartwright is located in Wood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartwright
    • Stout
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Stout is located in Wood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stout
    • Perryville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Perryville is located in Wood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
    • Gunter
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Gunter is located in Wood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunter

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

Cemeteries Near Thedford ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thedford.

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

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

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

  • Sitton Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitton Cemetery
    • The Sitton Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Fairview Cemetery (African-American)
    • Nebo Cemetery
  • Lindale City Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Damascus Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Sylvan Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Hopewell Valley Cemetery (African-American)
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Bethesda Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Hubbard Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • New Harmony Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Sand Flat Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Flat Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Sand Flat Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 9 miles [14.5 km]<2> to the north of Tyler.
    • The Sand Flat Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Sand Flat / Antioch Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2285419 <3>
  • Wood / Verner Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Shady Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Red Springs Free Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Springs Free Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Red Springs Free Cemetery is located in Red Springs.
    • The Red Springs Free Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Red Springs Cemetery
  • Continue List   (223 more) ...
    • Dover Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Hill Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Beaird Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<4>

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

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

  • Lindale
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Swan
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Swan is located in Smith County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
  • Mount Sylvan
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Mount Sylvan is located in Smith County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sylvan
  • Carroll
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Carroll is located in Smith County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
  • Garden Valley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Garden Valley is located in Smith County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Valley
  • Tyler
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Tyler is located in Smith County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyler
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 108,222 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tyler <1>
  • Jamestown
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Jamestown is located in Smith County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
  • Chandler
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Mineola
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Winona
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Hawkins
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Edom
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Edom is located in Van Zandt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edom
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 387 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Edom <1>
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Pruitt
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Pruitt is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruitt
    • Starrville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Starrville is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starrville
    • Silver Lake
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Silver Lake is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake

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

Newspapers Published in Thedford ...

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 77 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thedford.

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Thedford:

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- Thedford) 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 Thedford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.