RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Texas >> Hunt County >> Union Valley >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Union 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 Union 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 Union 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.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Union Valley: Union Vly. (or less commonly used: Union Vally. or Union Vlly.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Union Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Union Valley.

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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.

Union Valley is located in Hunt 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 Hunt County: Collin, Delta, Fannin, Hopkins, Kaufman, Rains & Rockwall.

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

  • Hunt County     (The home county of Union Valley)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Valley, with the one closest to Union Valley listed first.
    • Quinlan
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Hendrix
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Hendrix is located in Hunt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
    • Caddo Mills
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Boles Home
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Boles Home is located in Hunt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boles Home
    • Hawk Cove
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Hawk Cove is located in Hunt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawk Cove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 562 people
    • Clinton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Clinton is located in Hunt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
    • Weiland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Weiland is located in Hunt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weiland
    • West Tawakoni
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • West Tawakoni is located in Hunt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Tawakoni
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,994 people
    • Dixon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Dixon is located in Hunt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
    • Greenville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lone Oak
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Merit
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
  • Collin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Valley, with the one closest to Union Valley listed first.
    • Royse City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Josephine
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Nevada
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Lavon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Copeville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Farmersville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Clear Lake
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Clear Lake is located in Collin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
    • Wylie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Wylie is located in Collin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54,467 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wylie <1>
    • Saint Paul
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Saint Paul is located in Collin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,039 people
    • Sachse
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Murphy
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Lucas
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Lucas is located in Collin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,819 people
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Valley, with the one closest to Union Valley listed first.
    • Rowlett
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Sunnyvale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Centerville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Centerville is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
    • New Hope
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • New Hope is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
    • Mesquite
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Garland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Lawson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Lawson is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawson
    • Balch Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Seagoville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Combine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Combine is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Combine
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,537 people
    • Kleberg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Kleberg is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kleberg
    • Buckingham
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Buckingham is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckingham
  • Hopkins County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Valley, with the one closest to Union Valley listed first.
    • Miller Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Cumby
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Palestine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Palestine is located in Hopkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palestine
  • Kaufman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Valley, with the one closest to Union Valley listed first.
    • Poetry
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Poetry is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poetry
    • Ables Springs
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Ables Springs is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ables Springs
    • Lawrence
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Lawrence is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrence
    • Terrell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Heath
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Heath is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heath
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,718 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Heath <1>
    • Elmo
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • College Mound
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • College Mound is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Mound
    • Forney
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Talty
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Talty is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talty
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,883 people
    • Post Oak Bend City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Post Oak Bend City is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Oak Bend City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 626 people
    • Abner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Abner is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abner
    • Lone Star
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Lone Star is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
  • Rains County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Valley, with the one closest to Union Valley listed first.
    • Hooker Ridge
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Hooker Ridge is located in Rains County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker Ridge
    • East Tawakoni
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • East Tawakoni is located in Rains County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Tawakoni
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 991 people
    • Flats
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Flats is located in Rains County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flats
    • Point
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Emory
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Rockwall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Valley, with the one closest to Union Valley listed first.
    • Blackland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Blackland is located in Rockwall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackland
    • Fate
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Fate is located in Rockwall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fate
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,434 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fate <1>
    • McLendon - Chisholm
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • McLendon - Chisholm is located in Rockwall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLendon - Chisholm
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,815 people
    • Mobile City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Mobile City is located in Rockwall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
    • Rockwall
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Van Zandt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Valley, with the one closest to Union Valley listed first.
    • Wills Point
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Edgewood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Myrtle Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Myrtle Springs is located in Van Zandt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Springs
    • Fruitvale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Union Valley ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Union 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 Union Valley - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Graham Point Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Hail Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Paynetown Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Royse City Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Blackland Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Needmore Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Dry Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Campground Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Hodges Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Dry Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Odd Fellows Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Odd Fellows Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (244 more) ...
    • Stone Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Josephine Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Van Sickle Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)

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

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

  • Royse City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Blackland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Blackland is located in Rockwall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackland
  • Poetry
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Poetry is located in Kaufman County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poetry
  • Caddo Mills
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Fate
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Fate is located in Rockwall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fate
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,434 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fate <1>
  • Chisholm
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Chisholm is located in Rockwall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chisholm
  • Josephine
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • McCoy
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • McCoy is located in Kaufman County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCoy
  • Nevada
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Millwood
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Millwood is located in Collin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
  • Rockwall
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Wieland
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Wieland is located in Hunt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wieland
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Clinton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Clinton is located in Hunt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
    • Lavon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Lawrence
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Lawrence is located in Kaufman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrence

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

Newspapers Published in Union 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 66 newspapers that have been published in the area around Union Valley.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Union Valley, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Union Valley.

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 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 Union Valley:

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 Union Valley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Union Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.