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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 Vanva Settlement (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 Vanva Settlement. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.

Vanva Settlement is located in Liberty 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 Liberty County: Chambers, Hardin, Harris, Montgomery, Polk & San Jacinto.

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

  • Liberty County     (The home county of Vanva Settlement)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vanva Settlement, with the one closest to Vanva Settlement listed first.
    • Coushatta Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Coushatta Village is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coushatta Village
    • Fuqua ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Fuqua is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuqua
    • Mariam
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Mariam is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mariam
    • Rye
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Big Thicket Creekmore Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Romayor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hardin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Hull
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Africa ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Africa is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
    • Dayton Lakes
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Dayton Lakes is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton Lakes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Rayburn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Rayburn is located in Liberty County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rayburn
    • Daisetta
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vanva Settlement, with the one closest to Vanva Settlement listed first.
    • Thicket
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Votaw
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Batson
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Bragg ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Bragg is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg
    • Saratoga
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Village Mills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Sour Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Grayburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Grayburg is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayburg
    • Kountze
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Pinewood Estates
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Pinewood Estates is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinewood Estates
    • Lumberton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vanva Settlement, with the one closest to Vanva Settlement listed first.
    • Nome
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Nome is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nome
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 592 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nome <1>
    • Bevil Oaks
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Bevil Oaks is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bevil Oaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,209 people
    • China
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • China is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for China
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,204 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for China <1>
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vanva Settlement, with the one closest to Vanva Settlement listed first.
    • Splendora
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Patton Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Patton Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,207 people
    • Roman Forest
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Roman Forest is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roman Forest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,035 people
    • Woodbranch
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Woodbranch is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbranch
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vanva Settlement, with the one closest to Vanva Settlement listed first.
    • Oak Shade
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Oak Shade is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Shade
    • Ace
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Schwab City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Schwab City is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schwab City
    • Dallardsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Indian Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Indian Springs is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs
    • Goodrich
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Lamont
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Lamont is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
    • Swartout ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Swartout is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swartout
    • Livingston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • San Jacinto County
    • Shepherd
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Tyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vanva Settlement, with the one closest to Vanva Settlement listed first.
    • Warren
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Ivanhoe North
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ivanhoe North is located in Tyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe North
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 538 people
    • Ivanhoe
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ivanhoe is located in Tyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,438 people
    • Hillister
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Vanva Settlement ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vanva Settlement.

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 Vanva Settlement - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • McNulty Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Fields Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Moss Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Felps Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Hank Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Guedry Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Middle Town Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Griffin Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Lums Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Sutton Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Old Hardin Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Boothe Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (84 more) ...
    • Ryan Cemetery
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Oak Dale Cemetery
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Brackin Cemetery
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)

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

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

  • Saratoga
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Ames
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Ames is located in Liberty County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ames
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,275 people
  • Liberty
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
  • Dallardsville
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
  • Sour Lake
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Village Mills
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Shepherd
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Keno
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Keno is located in Liberty County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keno
  • Cleveland
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
  • Dayton
    (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
  • Kountze
    (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
  • Felicia
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Felicia is located in Liberty County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
  • Continue List   (7 more) ...
    • Nona
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Nona is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nona
    • Hyatt
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Hyatt is located in Tyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyatt
    • Goodrich
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Vanva Settlement ...

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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vanva Settlement.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Vanva Settlement, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Vanva Settlement.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Vanva Settlement:

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 Vanva Settlement, 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 from Point A (ie- Vanva Settlement) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.