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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 Viola (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 Viola. 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.

Viola is located in Nueces County.

To see how the shape of Texas' counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Nueces County: Aransas, Jim Wells, Kleberg & San Patricio.

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

  • Nueces County     (The home county of Viola)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Calallen
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Corpus Christi
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Robstown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Robstown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robstown
      • Robstown is located in Nueces County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,133 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Robstown <1>
    • Tierra Grande
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tierra Grande have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tierra Grande
      • Tierra Grande is located in Nueces County
    • North San Pedro
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North San Pedro have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North San Pedro
      • North San Pedro is located in Nueces County
    • Petronila
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Petronila have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petronila
      • Petronila is located in Nueces County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 112 people
    • Spring Garden - Terra Verde
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • La Paloma - Lost Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bluntzer
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Banquete
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Banquete have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banquete
      • Banquete is located in Nueces County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Banquete <1>
    • Chapman Ranch
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chapman Ranch have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman Ranch
      • Chapman Ranch is located in Nueces County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Chapman Ranch <1>
    • Driscoll
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
  • Aransas County
    • Aransas Pass
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Aransas Pass have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aransas Pass
      • Aransas Pass is located in Aransas County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,496 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Aransas Pass <1>
  • Bee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Tynan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Skidmore
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Skidmore have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skidmore
      • Skidmore is located in Bee County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Skidmore <1>
  • Jim Wells County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Casa Blanca
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Sandia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sandia have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandia
      • Sandia is located in Jim Wells County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sandia <1>
    • K-Bar Ranch
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for K-Bar Ranch have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for K-Bar Ranch
      • K-Bar Ranch is located in Jim Wells County
    • Orange Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Orange Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange Grove
      • Orange Grove is located in Jim Wells County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,296 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Orange Grove <1>
    • Water City Estates
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Water City Estates have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water City Estates
      • Water City Estates is located in Jim Wells County
      • Water City Estates has also been known as:
      • Water City Estates Colonia
    • Pernitas Point
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pernitas Point have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pernitas Point
      • Pernitas Point is located in Jim Wells County
    • Alfred - South La Paloma
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Westdale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Westdale have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westdale
      • Westdale is located in Jim Wells County
  • Kleberg County
  • Refugio County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Black Point ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Black Point have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Point
      • Black Point is located in Refugio County
    • Bayside
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bayside have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayside
      • Bayside is located in Refugio County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bayside <1>
    • Woodsboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Woodsboro have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodsboro
      • Woodsboro is located in Refugio County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,376 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Woodsboro <1>
  • San Patricio County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Odem
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Doyle
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Doyle have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doyle
      • Doyle is located in San Patricio County
    • Taft Southwest
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Portland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Del Sol - Loma Linda
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Morgan Farm
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Rancho Chico
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rancho Chico have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rancho Chico
      • Rancho Chico is located in San Patricio County
    • Taft
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Taft have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taft
      • Taft is located in San Patricio County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,886 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Taft <1>
    • Sinton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Edroy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Edroy have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edroy
      • Edroy is located in San Patricio County
      • Edroy has also been known as:
      • Edroy Colonia
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Edroy <1>
    • Gregory
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gregory have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregory
      • Gregory is located in San Patricio County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,866 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gregory <1>
    • Saint Paul
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Paul have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
      • Saint Paul is located in San Patricio County

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

Cemeteries Near Viola ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Viola.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Viola had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Nueces
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nueces have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nueces
    • Nueces is located in Nueces County
  • Corpus Christi
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Portland
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Sinton
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Gregory
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gregory have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregory
    • Gregory is located in San Patricio County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,866 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gregory <1>
  • Banquete
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Banquete have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banquete
    • Banquete is located in Nueces County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Banquete <1>
  • Driscoll
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
  • San Patricio
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for San Patricio have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Patricio
    • San Patricio is located in San Patricio County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 366 people
  • Papalote
    (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Papalote have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Papalote
    • Papalote is located in Bee County
  • Agua Dulce
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
  • Aransas Pass
    (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Aransas Pass have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aransas Pass
    • Aransas Pass is located in Aransas County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,496 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Aransas Pass <1>
  • Mathis
    (25 miles [40.2 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 Viola. See our List of 1890's Communities around Viola.

Newspapers Published in Viola ...

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 100 newspapers that have been published in the area around Viola.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Viola, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Viola.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Viola:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Viola. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Nueces County: www.co.nueces.tx.us/

The official website for State of Texas: https://texas.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Viola) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Viola. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 27.8408, Longitude: -97.5202       In this case, the coordinates for Viola have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>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 Viola, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025