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 Wood Springs (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 Wood Springs. 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 Wood Springs ...
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 Wood Springs: Wood Spgs. (or less commonly used: Wood Spngs. or Wood Sprngs.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Wood Springs. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Wood Springs.
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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Wood Springs is located in Smith 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 Smith County: Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Upshur, Van Zandt & Wood.
Below are the counties that are near Wood Springs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wood Springs:
- Smith County (The home county of Wood Springs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Springs, with the one closest to Wood Springs listed first.
- Lindale
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Swan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Swan is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Hideaway
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hideaway is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hideaway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,208 people
- Carroll
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Carroll is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
- Red Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Red Springs is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Springs
- Garden Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Garden Valley is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Valley
- Tyler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jamestown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jamestown is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Winona
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Noonday
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Noonday is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noonday
- Population from the 2020 Census: 722 people
- Starrville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Starrville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starrville
- Gresham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Gresham is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Anderson County
- Frankston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Springs, with the one closest to Wood Springs listed first.
- Bullard
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Cherokee Landing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cherokee Landing is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Landing
- Mount Selman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Mount Selman is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Selman
- Mixon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mixon is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixon
- Troup
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Larissa ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Larissa is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larissa
- Cuney
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Gregg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Springs, with the one closest to Wood Springs listed first.
- Liberty City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Liberty City is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
- Gladewater
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Clarksville City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Clarksville City is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 945 people
- Warren City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Warren City is located in Gregg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Springs, with the one closest to Wood Springs listed first.
- Chandler
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Brownsboro
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Moore Station
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Moore Station is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 223 people
- Leagueville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Leagueville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leagueville
- Coffee City
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Coffee City is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
- Murchison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Berryville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Berryville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,066 people
- Poynor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- LaRue
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rusk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Springs, with the one closest to Wood Springs listed first.
- Overton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Laird Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sexton City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sexton City is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton City
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Springs, with the one closest to Wood Springs listed first.
- Big Sandy
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Wilkins
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Wilkins is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkins
- Center Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Center Point is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Rhonesboro
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Rhonesboro is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhonesboro
- Pritchett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pritchett is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pritchett
- Rosewood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rosewood is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosewood
- Kelsey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kelsey is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsey
- Grice
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Grice is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grice
- Union Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Union Grove is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
- Van Zandt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Springs, with the one closest to Wood Springs listed first.
- Edom
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Van
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Van is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,778 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Van <1>
- Ben Wheeler
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Grand Saline
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fruitvale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Canton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Tundra
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Tundra is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tundra
- Wood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Springs, with the one closest to Wood Springs listed first.
- Mineola
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Hawkins
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hainesville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Hainesville is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hainesville
- Pine Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Pine Mills is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Golden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Quitman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Forest Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Forest Hill is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Alba
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cartwright
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cartwright is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartwright
- Stout
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Stout is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stout
- Perryville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Perryville is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Gunter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gunter is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunter
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wood Springs, see our County-by-County Page for Wood Springs.
Cemeteries Near Wood Springs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wood Springs.
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 Wood Springs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wood Springs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wood Springs, with the one closest to Wood Springs listed first.
- Sitton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitton Cemetery
- The Sitton Cemetery has also been known as:
- Fairview Cemetery (African-American)
- Nebo Cemetery
- Lindale City Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Mt. Sylvan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Damascus Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hopewell Valley Cemetery (African-American)
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hubbard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Harmony Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bethesda Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Wood / Verner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Beaird Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Cemetery
- The Evergreen Cemetery has also been known as:
- Evergreen Memorial Park - African-American
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (221 more) ...
- Sand Flat Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Flat Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Sand Flat Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 9 miles [14.5 km]<3> to the north of Tyler.
- The Sand Flat Cemetery has also been known as:
- Sand Flat / Antioch Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2285419 <2>
- Dover Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Wood Springs in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wood Springs.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wood Springs, with the one closest to Wood Springs listed first.
- Lindale
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mount Sylvan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mount Sylvan is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sylvan
- Swan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Swan is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Carroll
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Carroll is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
- Garden Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Garden Valley is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Valley
- Tyler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Chandler
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Jamestown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jamestown is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Edom
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mineola
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Winona
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Hawkins
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Pruitt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pruitt is located in Van Zandt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruitt
- Starrville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Starrville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starrville
- Brownsboro
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wood Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wood Springs.
Newspapers Published in Wood Springs ...
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 77 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wood Springs.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wood Springs, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wood Springs.
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 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 Wood Springs:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Smith County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Cherokee County
- Gregg County
- Henderson County
- Rusk County
- Upshur County
- Van Zandt County
- Wood 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Wood Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Wood Springs, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |