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 Canton (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 Canton. 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.
Canton is located in Washington County.
To see how the shape of Indiana's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Washington County: Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Lawrence, Orange & Scott.
Below are the counties that are near Canton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Canton:
- Washington County (The home county of Canton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Harristown
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Harristown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harristown
- Salem
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- South Boston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- South Boston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Boston
- Kossuth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kossuth is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kossuth
- Plattsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Plattsburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattsburg
- Little York
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Little York is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little York
- Population from the 2020 Census: 191 people
- New Pekin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- New Pekin is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Pekin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,392 people
- Bartle
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bartle is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartle
- Smedley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Smedley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smedley
- Campbellsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Claysville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Claysville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claysville
- Livonia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Livonia is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Saltillo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Saltillo is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saltillo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Borden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Providence
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- New Providence is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
- Underwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Underwood is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Underwood
- Broom Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Broom Hill is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broom Hill
- Henryville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Starlight
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Memphis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bennettsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bennettsville is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennettsville
- Slatecut
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Slatecut is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slatecut
- Otisco
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Otisco is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otisco
- Marysville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Marysville is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
- Nabb
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Nabb is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nabb
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Milltown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Marengo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pilot Knob
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pilot Knob is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Knob
- Carefree
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Carefree is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carefree
- English
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Greenville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Galena
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Galena is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galena
- Georgetown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Floyds Knobs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Albany
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Palmyra
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Bradford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Bradford is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- New Salisbury
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Ramsey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Ramsey is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramsey
- Corydon Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Corydon Junction is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corydon Junction
- Depauw
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Depauw is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Depauw
- Crandall
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Crandall is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crandall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Frenchtown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Frenchtown is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchtown
- Lanesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Corydon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Vallonia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Crothersville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Medora
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Medora is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medora
- Population from the 2020 Census: 693 people
- Retreat
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Retreat is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retreat
- Brownstown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Dudleytown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dudleytown is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudleytown
- New Elizabethtown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- New Elizabethtown is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Elizabethtown
- Kriete Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Kriete Corner is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kriete Corner
- Cortland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Cortland is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cortland
- Freetown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Kurtz
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Kurtz is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kurtz
- Seymour
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Norman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Deputy
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Chelsea
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Chelsea is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chelsea
- Kent
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Kent is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Hanover
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Jennings County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Paris Crossing
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Paris Crossing is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris Crossing
- Commiskey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Four Corners
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Four Corners is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Corners
- Hayden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hayden is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayden
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Fort Ritner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Ritner is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Ritner
- Bono
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bono is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bono
- Tunnelton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tunnelton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnelton
- Stonington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Stonington is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonington
- Lawrenceport
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lawrenceport is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrenceport
- Leesville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Leesville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Spring Mill Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Spring Mill Village is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Mill Village
- Crawford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Crawford is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Mitchell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Erie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Erie is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Zelma
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Zelma is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zelma
- Heltonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bedford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Orange County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Bromer
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bromer is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bromer
- Leipsic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Leipsic is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leipsic
- Mahan Crossing
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Mahan Crossing is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mahan Crossing
- Trotter Crossing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Trotter Crossing is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trotter Crossing
- Chambersburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Chambersburg is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambersburg
- Orleans
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Paoli
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Youngs Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Youngs Creek is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngs Creek
- Abydel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Abydel is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abydel
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Scottsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Austin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Marshfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Marshfield is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshfield
- Goshen
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Goshen is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Albion
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Albion is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Blocher
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Blocher is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocher
- Lexington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Jefferson County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Harrods Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Parkland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Parkland is located in Jefferson County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland
- Prospect
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clifton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Clifton is located in Jefferson County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Glenview
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Glenview is located in Jefferson County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 544 people
- Louisville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Oldham County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Harmony Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Harmony Village is located in Oldham County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Village
- Goshen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Goshen is located in Oldham County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,016 people
- River Bluff
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- River Bluff is located in Oldham County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Bluff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 442 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Canton, see our County-by-County Page for Canton.
Cemeteries Near Canton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Canton.
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 Canton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Canton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Canton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- McKnight Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Franklin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Franklin Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the northeast of Salem.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1970670 <3>
- Blue River Friends Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue River Friends Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Blue River Friends Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the northeast of Salem.
- The Blue River Friends Cemetery has also been known as:
- Blue River Orthodox Friends Cemetery
- Blue River Quaker Orthodox Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1987469 <3>
- Norris Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Stalker Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Blue River Hicksite Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Paynter Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Poor Farm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Winslow Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Nicholson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Hebron Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (336 more) ...
- Blue River Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ridlen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wright Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Canton had a population of 267 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Canton, with the one closest to Canton listed first.
- Harristown
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Harristown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harristown
- Salem
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- New Philadelphia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- New Philadelphia is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
- Farabee
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Farabee is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farabee
- South Boston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- South Boston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Boston
- Kossuth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kossuth is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kossuth
- Hitchcock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hitchcock is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitchcock
- Blue River
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Blue River is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue River
- Little York
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Little York is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little York
- Population from the 2020 Census: 191 people
- Rush Creek Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rush Creek Valley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rush Creek Valley
- Bartle
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bartle is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartle
- Smedley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Smedley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smedley
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Millport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Millport is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millport
- Leota
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Leota is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leota
- Borden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Canton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Canton.
Newspapers Published in Canton ...
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 106 newspapers that have been published in the area around Canton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Canton, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Canton.
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 Canton:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clark County
- Crawford County
- Floyd County
- Harrison County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Jennings County
- Lawrence County
- Orange County
- Scott County
- Jefferson County
- Oldham County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Indiana
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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Canton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Canton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |