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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 Kelso (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 Kelso. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.

Kelso is located in Cassia County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Cassia County: Blaine, Jerome, Minidoka, Oneida, Power, Twin Falls, Elko (NV) & Box Elder (UT).

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

  • Cassia County     (The home county of Kelso)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelso, with the one closest to Kelso listed first.
    • Bridge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bridge. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridge
      • Bridge is located in Cassia County
    • Naf
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naf
      • Naf is located in Cassia County
    • Strevell ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strevell
      • Strevell is located in Cassia County
    • Standrod
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Standrod. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standrod
      • Standrod is located in Cassia County
    • Malta
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Malta have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
      • Malta is located in Cassia County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Malta <3>
    • Almo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Elba
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Sublett
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sublett
      • Sublett is located in Cassia County
    • Albion
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Basin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Basin. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Basin
      • Basin is located in Cassia County
  • Box Elder County (UT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kelso, with the one closest to Kelso listed first.
    • Standrod
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Standrod. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standrod
      • Standrod is located in Box Elder County (UT)
    • Cedar Creek ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cedar Creek. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
      • Cedar Creek is located in Box Elder County (UT)
    • Yost
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Yost. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yost
      • Yost is located in Box Elder County (UT)
    • Hardup
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hardup. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardup
      • Hardup is located in Box Elder County (UT)
    • Park Valley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Rosette
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosette
      • Rosette is located in Box Elder County (UT)
    • Russian Settlement ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Russian Settlement. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russian Settlement
      • Russian Settlement is located in Box Elder County (UT)
      • Russian Settlement has also been known as:
      • Molokane Settlement
      • Pryguny Settlement
    • Kelton ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kelton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelton
      • Kelton is located in Box Elder County (UT)
      • Former name for Kelton:
      • Indian Creek
    • Lynn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lynn. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
      • Lynn is located in Box Elder County (UT)
    • Vipont ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Vipont. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vipont
      • Vipont is located in Box Elder County (UT)

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

Cemeteries Near Kelso ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kelso.

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 Kelso covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Olson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Olson Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Olson Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #80590 <4>
  • Standrod Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Clear Creek Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Yost Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Park Valley Pioneer Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Malta Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Malta Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Malta Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Sunny Cedar Rest Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Park Valley Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Elba Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Juniper Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
  • Junction Cemetery
    (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
  • Russian Settlement Cemetery
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (7 more) ...

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.<6>

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

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

  • Bridge
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bridge. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridge
    • Bridge is located in Cassia County
  • Standrod
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Standrod. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standrod
    • Standrod is located in Cassia County
  • Yost
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Yost. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yost
    • Yost is located in Box Elder County (UT)
  • Conant
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Conant have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
    • Conant is located in Cassia County
  • Almo
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Malta
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Malta have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
    • Malta is located in Cassia County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Malta <3>
  • Park Valley
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Elba
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Rosette
    (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosette
    • Rosette is located in Box Elder County (UT)
  • Sublett
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sublett
    • Sublett is located in Cassia County
  • Kelton ‑ Historic
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kelton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelton
    • Kelton is located in Box Elder County (UT)
    • Former name for Kelton:
    • Indian Creek
  • Albion
    (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Basin
    (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Basin. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Basin
    • Basin is located in Cassia County

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

Newspapers Published in Kelso ...

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 3 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kelso.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Kelso, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Kelso.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Kelso:

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

The official website for Cassia County: www.cassiacounty.org/

The official website for State of Idaho: https://idaho.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<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>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>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.
<5>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 from Point A (ie- Kelso) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Kelso. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.0685, Longitude: -113.3139       In this case, the coordinates for Kelso have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>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 Kelso, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025