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 Valley Ridge (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 Valley Ridge. 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 Valley Ridge ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Valley Ridge: Valley Rdg. (or less commonly used: Valley Rdge. or Valley Ridg.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Valley Ridge. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Valley Ridge.
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 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.
Valley Ridge is located in Tarrant 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 Tarrant County: Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Parker & Wise.
Below are the counties that are near Valley Ridge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Valley Ridge:
- Tarrant County (The home county of Valley Ridge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Rendon
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Rendon is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rendon
- Retta
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Retta is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retta
- Everman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Kennedale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Forest Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Edgecliff Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Edgecliff Village is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgecliff Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,012 people
- Dalworthington Gardens
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Johnsons Station
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Johnsons Station is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsons Station
- Wedgewood East
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wedgewood East is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wedgewood East
- Pantego
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- University Park Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Primrose
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Primrose is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Cedar Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Grand Prairie
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Duncanville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Shamrock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Shamrock is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shamrock
- Ovilla
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- DeSoto
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Glenn Heights
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cockrell Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sowers ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sowers is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sowers
- Estelle
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Estelle is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Eagle Ford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Eagle Ford is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Ford
- Irving
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jim Town ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jim Town is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jim Town
- Jim Town has also been known as:
- Jimtown
- Denton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Southlake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Westlake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Roanoke
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Trophy Club
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Elizabethtown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Elizabethtown is located in Denton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elizabethtown
- Marshall Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Marshall Creek is located in Denton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshall Creek
- Ellis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Mansfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Britton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Britton is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Britton
- Venus
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Midlothian
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Auburn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Auburn is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
- Sardis
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sardis is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
- Oak Leaf
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Oak Leaf is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Leaf
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
- Maypearl
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Red Oak
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Sterrett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Sterrett is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterrett
- Boz
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Boz is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boz
- Waxahachie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pecan Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Pecan Hill is located in Ellis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecan Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 714 people
- Hill County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Covington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Itasca
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Cresson
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Acton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- DeCordova
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- DeCordova is located in Hood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeCordova
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,108 people
- Fort Spunky
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Spunky is located in Hood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Spunky
- Pecan Plantation
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pecan Plantation is located in Hood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecan Plantation
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Lillian
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Burleson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Crowley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Briaroaks
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Briaroaks is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briaroaks
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Cross Timber
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cross Timber is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Timber
- Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
- Egan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Egan is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Joshua
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Alvarado
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Keene
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Coyote Flats
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Coyote Flats is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyote Flats
- Population from the 2020 Census: 368 people
- Cuba
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Cuba is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Cleburne
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Godley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Parker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Aledo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Annetta South
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Annetta South is located in Parker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annetta South
- Population from the 2020 Census: 579 people
- Willow Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Annetta North
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Annetta North is located in Parker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annetta North
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Annetta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Annetta is located in Parker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annetta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,319 people
- Azle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hudson Oaks
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sanctuary
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sanctuary is located in Parker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanctuary
- Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
- Dicey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dicey is located in Parker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dicey
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Valley Ridge, see our County-by-County Page for Valley Ridge.
Cemeteries Near Valley Ridge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Valley Ridge.
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 Valley Ridge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Valley Ridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Walnut Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Skyvue Memorial Gardens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hudson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Everman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Hill Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Grimsley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Burleson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Burleson Memorial Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hawkins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rehoboth Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Crowley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (162 more) ...
- Prairie Springs Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cahill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Tate Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 Valley Ridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Valley Ridge.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Valley Ridge, with the one closest to Valley Ridge listed first.
- Rendon
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Rendon is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rendon
- Oak Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Kennedale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Burleson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mansfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Crowley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Point
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Point is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Point
- Marystown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Marystown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marystown
- Egan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Egan is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Johnsons Station
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Johnsons Station is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsons Station
- Handley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Handley is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Handley
- Joshua
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Ederville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Ederville is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ederville
- Primrose
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Primrose is located in Tarrant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
- Alvarado
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Valley Ridge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Valley Ridge.
Newspapers Published in Valley Ridge ...
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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around Valley Ridge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Valley Ridge, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Valley Ridge.
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 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 Valley Ridge:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Tarrant County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dallas County
- Denton County
- Ellis County
- Hill County
- Hood County
- Johnson County
- Parker 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> | 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 Valley Ridge, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Valley Ridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |