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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 Shaffers Crossing (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 Shaffers Crossing. 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 Shaffers Crossing ...

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.

  • A typical abbreviation for Shaffers Crossing: Shaffers Xing.
  • While the name of this community is Shaffers Crossing, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Shaffers Crossing may originally have been Shaffer's Crossing.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Shaffers Crossing might be written as Shaffer Crossing.

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.

Shaffers Crossing is located in Jefferson County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Jefferson County: Adams, Boulder, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, Park & Teller.

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

  • Jefferson County     (The home county of Shaffers Crossing)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaffers Crossing, with the one closest to Shaffers Crossing listed first.
    • Conifer
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Indian Springs Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Aspen Park
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Aspen Park is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspen Park
    • Crossons
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Crossons is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crossons
    • Pine
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Brook Forest
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Brook Forest is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brook Forest
    • Foxton ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Foxton is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxton
    • Sky Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Sky Village is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sky Village
    • Buffalo Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Dome Rock
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Dome Rock is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dome Rock
    • Evergreen
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Indian Hills
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Adams County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaffers Crossing, with the one closest to Shaffers Crossing listed first.
    • Berkley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Berkley is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
    • Hidden Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hidden Lake is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hidden Lake
    • North Washington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • North Washington is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
    • Twin Lakes
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Twin Lakes is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
    • Westminster
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Arapahoe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaffers Crossing, with the one closest to Shaffers Crossing listed first.
    • Bow Mar
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Bow Mar is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow Mar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 947 people
    • Columbine Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Columbine Valley is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbine Valley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,508 people
    • Fort Logan ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Fort Logan is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Logan
    • Littleton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Sheridan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cherry Knolls
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Cherry Knolls is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Knolls
    • Southglenn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Southglenn is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southglenn
    • Englewood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Cherry Hills Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Castlewood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Castlewood is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castlewood
    • Greenwood Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Centennial
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Boulder County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaffers Crossing, with the one closest to Shaffers Crossing listed first.
    • Crescent Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Crescent Village is located in Boulder County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent Village
    • Wondervu
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Wondervu is located in Boulder County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wondervu
  • Clear Creek County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaffers Crossing, with the one closest to Shaffers Crossing listed first.
    • Brookvale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Brookvale is located in Clear Creek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookvale
    • Idaho Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Silverdale ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Silverdale is located in Clear Creek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silverdale
    • Downieville - Lawson - Dumont
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Downieville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Dumont
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Georgetown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Silver Creek ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Silver Creek is located in Clear Creek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Creek
    • Lawson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Lawson is located in Clear Creek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawson
    • Silver Plume
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Empire
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Empire is located in Clear Creek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 302 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Empire <2>
    • Alice
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Alice is located in Clear Creek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alice
  • Denver County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaffers Crossing, with the one closest to Shaffers Crossing listed first.
    • West Denver
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • West Denver is located in Denver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Denver
    • Cherry Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cherry Creek is located in Denver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Creek
    • Denver
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Denver is located in Denver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denver
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 735,538 people
      • Former names for Denver:
      • Auraina
      • Denver City
      • Montana City
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Denver <2>
  • Douglas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaffers Crossing, with the one closest to Shaffers Crossing listed first.
    • Twin Cedars ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Twin Cedars is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Cedars
    • Roxborough Park
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Roxborough Park is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxborough Park
    • Louviers
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Highlands Ranch
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Sedalia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Acres Green
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Carriage Club
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Carriage Club is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carriage Club
    • Castle Pines North
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Castle Pines North is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Pines North
      • Estimated population in 2011: 10,602 people
    • Castle Pines
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Gateway
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Gateway is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gateway
    • Perry Park
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Perry Park is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry Park
    • Westcreek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Westcreek is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westcreek
  • Gilpin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaffers Crossing, with the one closest to Shaffers Crossing listed first.
    • Cottonwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Cottonwood is located in Gilpin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood
    • Smith Hill ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Smith Hill is located in Gilpin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Hill
    • Russell Gulch
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Russell Gulch is located in Gilpin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell Gulch
    • Black Hawk
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Central City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Nevadaville ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Nevadaville is located in Gilpin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nevadaville
      • Nevadaville has also been known as:
      • Bald Mountain
      • Nevada City
    • Apex ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Apex is located in Gilpin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apex
    • American City ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • American City is located in Gilpin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for American City
    • Kingston ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Kingston is located in Gilpin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
  • Park County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaffers Crossing, with the one closest to Shaffers Crossing listed first.
    • Bailey
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Shawnee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Weller
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Weller is located in Park County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weller
    • Grant
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Webster ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Webster is located in Park County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
    • Jefferson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Como
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Summit County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shaffers Crossing, with the one closest to Shaffers Crossing listed first.
    • Chihuahua ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Chihuahua is located in Summit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chihuahua
    • Montezuma
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Rexford ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Rexford is located in Summit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rexford
    • Saint Johns ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Saint Johns is located in Summit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
    • Swandyke ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Swandyke is located in Summit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swandyke

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

Cemeteries Near Shaffers Crossing ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shaffers Crossing.

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 Shaffers Crossing - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shaffers Crossing, with the one closest to Shaffers Crossing 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.<4>

While we didn't find Shaffers Crossing in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shaffers Crossing.

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

  • Crossons
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Crossons is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crossons
  • Pine
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Bailey
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Buffalo Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Dome Rock
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Dome Rock is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dome Rock
  • Brookvale
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Brookvale is located in Clear Creek County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookvale
  • South Platte
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • South Platte is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Platte
  • Evergreen
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Morrison
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Archer
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Archer is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archer
  • Grant
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Acequia
    (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Acequia is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acequia
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Webster ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Webster is located in Park County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
    • Idaho Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Cottonwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Cottonwood is located in Gilpin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood

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

Newspapers Published in Shaffers Crossing ...

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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shaffers Crossing.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shaffers Crossing, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shaffers Crossing.

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 Shaffers Crossing:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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>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 Shaffers Crossing, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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- Shaffers Crossing) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.