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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 South Platte (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 South Platte. 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 South Platte ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for South Platte: S. Platte

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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

South Platte is primarily located in Jefferson County. A portion of South Platte extends into Douglas 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 South Platte. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to South Platte:

  • Jefferson County     (The home county of South Platte)
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Platte, with the one closest to South Platte listed first.
    • Dome Rock
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Dome Rock is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dome Rock
    • Foxton ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Foxton is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxton
    • Buffalo Creek
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Indian Springs Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Pine
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Archer
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Archer is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archer
    • Conifer
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Sky Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Sky Village is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sky Village
    • Aspen Park
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Aspen Park is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspen Park
    • Crossons
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Crossons is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crossons
    • Ken Caryl
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Twin Forks
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Twin Forks is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Forks
  • Adams County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Platte, with the one closest to South Platte listed first.
    • Berkley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Berkley is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
    • Hidden Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Hidden Lake is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hidden Lake
    • North Washington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • North Washington is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
    • Hillcrest Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hillcrest Village is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest Village
    • Twin Lakes
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Twin Lakes is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
    • Western Hills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Western Hills is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western Hills
    • Westminster
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Friendly Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Friendly Village is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendly Village
  • Arapahoe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Platte, with the one closest to South Platte listed first.
    • Columbine Valley
      (15 miles [24.1 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
    • Bow Mar
      (16 miles [25.7 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
    • Littleton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Fort Logan ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Fort Logan is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Logan
    • Cherry Knolls
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Cherry Knolls is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Knolls
    • Southglenn
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Southglenn is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southglenn
    • Castlewood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Castlewood is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castlewood
    • Sheridan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Centennial
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Cherry Hills Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Englewood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenwood Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Clear Creek County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Platte, with the one closest to South Platte listed first.
    • Brookvale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Brookvale is located in Clear Creek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookvale
    • Idaho Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Denver County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Platte, with the one closest to South Platte listed first.
    • West Denver
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • West Denver is located in Denver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Denver
    • Cherry Creek
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Cherry Creek is located in Denver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Creek
    • Denver
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • 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 <1>
    • Sandown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Sandown is located in Denver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandown
  • Douglas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Platte, with the one closest to South Platte listed first.
    • Twin Cedars ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Twin Cedars is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Cedars
    • Roxborough Park
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Roxborough Park is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxborough Park
    • Louviers
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Sedalia
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Highlands Ranch
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Perry Park
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Perry Park is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry Park
    • Castle Pines North
      (15 miles [24.1 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
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Castle Rock
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Carriage Club
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Carriage Club is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carriage Club
    • Acres Green
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Gateway
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Gateway is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gateway
  • El Paso County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Platte, with the one closest to South Platte listed first.
    • Palmer Lake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Monument
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodmoor
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodmoor is located in El Paso County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodmoor
  • Elbert County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Platte, with the one closest to South Platte listed first.
    • Ponderosa Park
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Ponderosa Park is located in Elbert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponderosa Park
    • Elizabeth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Gilpin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Platte, with the one closest to South Platte listed first.
    • Cottonwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Cottonwood is located in Gilpin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood
    • Smith Hill ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Smith Hill is located in Gilpin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Hill
  • Park County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Platte, with the one closest to South Platte listed first.
    • Bailey
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Shawnee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Weller
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Weller is located in Park County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weller
    • Grant
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Webster ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Webster is located in Park County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
  • Teller County
    • Woodland Park
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near South Platte ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Platte.

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 South Platte - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from South Platte, with the one closest to South Platte 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that South Platte had a population of 50 people in 1895 with railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Dome Rock
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Dome Rock is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dome Rock
  • Buffalo Creek
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Pine
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Archer
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Archer is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archer
  • Sedalia
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Acequia
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Acequia is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acequia
  • Crossons
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Crossons is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crossons
  • Morrison
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
  • Castle Rock
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Littleton
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Bailey
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Evergreen
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Fort Logan ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Fort Logan is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Logan
    • Larkspur
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Brookvale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Brookvale is located in Clear Creek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookvale

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

Newspapers Published in South Platte ...

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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Platte.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Platte, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for South Platte.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 South Platte:

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 South Platte, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- South Platte) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.