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 Thorndale (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 Thorndale. 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 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.
Thorndale is primarily located in Milam County. A portion of Thorndale extends into Williamson 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 Milam County: Bell, Burleson, Falls, Lee, Robertson & Williamson.
Below are the counties that are near Thorndale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Thorndale:
- Milam County (The home county of Thorndale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thorndale, with the one closest to Thorndale listed first.
- Tracy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tracy is located in Milam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy
- Rockdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Davilla
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Val Verde
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Val Verde is located in Milam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Val Verde
- Minerva
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Minerva is located in Milam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minerva
- Buckholts
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Milano
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Cameron
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Marlow
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Marlow is located in Milam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Silver City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Silver City is located in Milam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Maysfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Burlington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bastrop County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thorndale, with the one closest to Thorndale listed first.
- Elgin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- McDade
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Paige
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Camp Swift
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Camp Swift is located in Bastrop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Swift
- Bell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thorndale, with the one closest to Thorndale listed first.
- Vilas
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Vilas is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilas
- Bartlett
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Rogers
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Holland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Edgeworth
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Edgeworth is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgeworth
- Sparks
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Sparks is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparks
- Academy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Academy is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Academy
- Little River Academy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Little River Academy is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little River Academy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,048 people
- Meeks
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Meeks is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeks
- Little River
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cyclone
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cyclone is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cyclone
- Heidenheimer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Salado
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Burleson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thorndale, with the one closest to Thorndale listed first.
- Chriesman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- San Antonio Prairie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- San Antonio Prairie is located in Burleson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Antonio Prairie
- Deanville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Caldwell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thorndale, with the one closest to Thorndale listed first.
- Hicks
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Hicks is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks
- Blue
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Blue is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue
- Tanglewood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tanglewood is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewood
- Knobbs Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Knobbs Springs is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knobbs Springs
- Lexington
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Fedor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fedor is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fedor
- Lincoln
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Old Dime Box
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Old Dime Box is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Dime Box
- Dime Box
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Loebau
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Loebau is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loebau
- Travis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thorndale, with the one closest to Thorndale listed first.
- Manda ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Manda is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manda
- Cele
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cele is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cele
- New Sweden
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- New Sweden is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Sweden
- Littig
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Littig is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littig
- Pflugerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Manor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Windemere
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Windemere is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windemere
- Three Points
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Three Points is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Points
- Wells Branch
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wells Branch is located in Travis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells Branch
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thorndale, with the one closest to Thorndale listed first.
- Thrall
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Laneport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Laneport is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laneport
- Hoxie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hoxie is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoxie
- Friendship ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Friendship is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Beyersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Beyersville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beyersville
- Taylor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Granger
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Coupland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hutto
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Schwertner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Walburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Weir
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Jarrell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Thorndale, see our County-by-County Page for Thorndale.
Cemeteries Near Thorndale ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thorndale.
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 Thorndale - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Thorndale covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Thorndale, with the one closest to Thorndale listed first.
- Thorndale Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Detmold Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hanks Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Connell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Ramseur Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Conoley Union Community Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Salty Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Garden Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Locklin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Thomson Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- John W Hamblen Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (274 more) ...
- Davison Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Liberty Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Retreat Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Thorndale had a population of 47 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Thorndale had a population of 1,302 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Thorndale, with the one closest to Thorndale listed first.
- San Gabriel
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- San Gabriel is located in Milam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Gabriel
- Laneport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Laneport is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laneport
- Taylor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Davilla
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Rockdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Hicks
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Hicks is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks
- Circleville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Circleville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Circleville
- Coupland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tanglewood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tanglewood is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewood
- Donahoe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Donahoe is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donahoe
- Granger
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Vilas
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Vilas is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilas
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Minerva
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Minerva is located in Milam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minerva
- Rices Crossing
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rices Crossing is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rices Crossing
- Lexington
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Thorndale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Thorndale.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Thorndale ...
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 89 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thorndale.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Thorndale. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Thorndale and those printed in the larger area surrounding Thorndale.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Thorndale.
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 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 Thorndale:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Milam County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bastrop County
- Bell County
- Burleson County
- Lee County
- Travis County
- Williamson 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> | 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 Thorndale, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Thorndale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |