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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 Columbus (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 Columbus. 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 northeast 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 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.

Columbus is located in Bartholomew County and is the County Seat.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Bartholomew County: Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson & Shelby.

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

  • Bartholomew County     (The home county of Columbus)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbus, with the one closest to Columbus listed first.
    • Corn Brook
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Garden City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Garden City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
      • Garden City is located in Bartholomew County
    • Jewell Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jewell Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell Village
      • Jewell Village is located in Bartholomew County
    • Petersville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Clifford
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clifford have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
      • Clifford is located in Bartholomew County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
    • Bethel Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bethel Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel Village
      • Bethel Village is located in Bartholomew County
    • Taylorsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Elizabethtown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Pleasant View Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pleasant View Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View Village
      • Pleasant View Village is located in Bartholomew County
    • North Ogilville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Stony Lonesome
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Hope
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Grammer
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Brown County
  • Decatur County
  • Jackson County
  • Jefferson County
    • Dupont
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dupont have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dupont
      • Dupont is located in Jefferson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dupont <2>
  • Jennings County
  • Johnson County
  • Lawrence County
  • Marion County
    • Acton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Acton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
      • Acton is located in Marion County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Acton
      • From Columbus to Acton
  • Monroe County
    • Unionville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Unionville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
      • Unionville is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Unionville <2>
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbus, with the one closest to Columbus listed first.
    • Morgantown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Morgantown have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgantown
      • Morgantown is located in Morgan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Morgantown <2>
    • Taggart Crossing ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Waverly
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Waverly. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
      • Waverly is located in Morgan County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Waverly
      • From Columbus to Waverly
  • Ripley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbus, with the one closest to Columbus listed first.
    • Holton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Holton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holton
      • Holton is located in Ripley County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 457 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Holton <2>
    • Napoleon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Rush County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbus, with the one closest to Columbus listed first.
    • Moscow
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Gowdy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Manilla
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Williamstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Williamstown have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
      • Williamstown is located in Rush County
    • Homer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Milroy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Milroy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
      • Milroy is located in Rush County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milroy <2>
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbus, with the one closest to Columbus listed first.
    • Flat Rock
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Flat Rock have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Rock
      • Flat Rock is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Flat Rock <2>
    • Mount Auburn
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Norristown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Geneva
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Wilson Corner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Prescott
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Prescott. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
      • Prescott is located in Shelby County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Prescott
      • From Columbus to Prescott
    • Waldron
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Riley Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Riley Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riley Village
      • Riley Village is located in Shelby County
    • Shelbyville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shelbyville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbyville
      • Shelbyville is located in Shelby County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 19,508 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Shelbyville <2>
    • Beech Brook
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Boggstown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Boggstown have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boggstown
      • Boggstown is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boggstown <2>
    • Hildebrand Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hildebrand Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hildebrand Village
      • Hildebrand Village is located in Shelby County
    • Candleglo Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Candleglo Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Candleglo Village
      • Candleglo Village is located in Shelby County

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

Cemeteries Near Columbus ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Columbus.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Columbus, with the one closest to Columbus 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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Columbus had a population of 6,719 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Columbus had a population of 48,445 people.

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

  • Corn Brook
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Walesboro
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Walesboro have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walesboro
    • Walesboro is located in Bartholomew County
  • Petersville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Clifford
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clifford have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
    • Clifford is located in Bartholomew County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
  • Nortonburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nortonburg have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nortonburg
    • Nortonburg is located in Bartholomew County
  • Waynesville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Waynesville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waynesville
    • Waynesville is located in Bartholomew County
  • Taylorsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Elizabethtown
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Saint Louis Crossing
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Louis Crossing have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Louis Crossing
    • Saint Louis Crossing is located in Bartholomew County
  • Newbern
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Newbern have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
    • Newbern is located in Bartholomew County
  • Azalia
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Azalia have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Azalia
    • Azalia is located in Bartholomew County
  • Burnsville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Burnsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
    • Burnsville is located in Bartholomew County
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Columbus ...

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 129 newspapers that have been published in the area around Columbus.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Columbus. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Columbus and those printed in the larger area surrounding Columbus.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<5> of Columbus.

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 websites either 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 Columbus:

The official website for Columbus: www.columbus.in.gov/

The official website for Bartholomew County: www.bartholomewco.com/

The official website for State of Indiana: https://www.in.gov

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Columbus) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Columbus. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.2159, Longitude: -85.9039    
<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 Columbus, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 21 Apr 2025