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 Lancaster (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 Lancaster. 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 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.
Lancaster is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Clark, Jennings, Ripley, Scott, Switzerland, Carroll (KY) & Trimble (KY).
Below are the counties that are near Lancaster. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lancaster:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Lancaster)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Middlefork
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Middlefork is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlefork
- Smyrna
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Smyrna is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smyrna
- Dupont
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Kent
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Kent is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Deputy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Bryantsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bryantsburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryantsburg
- Hanover
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Madison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Canaan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Canaan is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Chelsea
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Chelsea is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chelsea
- Manville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Manville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
- Brooksburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brooksburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooksburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Bartholomew County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Grammer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Grammer is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grammer
- Jonesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Elizabethtown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Elizabethtown is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elizabethtown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 540 people
- Jewell Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jewell Village is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell Village
- Newbern
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Newbern is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Nabb
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Nabb is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nabb
- Marysville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Marysville is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
- New Washington
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- New Washington is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Washington
- Otto
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Otto is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
- Bethlehem
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Underwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Underwood is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Underwood
- Otisco
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Otisco is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otisco
- Vesta
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Vesta is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vesta
- Henryville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sunset Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Sunset Village is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Charlestown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Memphis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Slatecut
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Slatecut is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slatecut
- Dearborn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Dillsboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Moores Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Harper
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Harper is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Sardinia
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sardinia is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardinia
- Alert
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Alert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alert
- Westport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Westport is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,416 people
- Millhousen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Millhousen is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millhousen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
- Letts
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Letts is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letts
- Letts Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Letts Corner is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letts Corner
- Harris City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Harris City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris City
- Smyrna
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Smyrna is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smyrna
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Crothersville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Kriete Corner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Kriete Corner is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kriete Corner
- Retreat
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Retreat is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retreat
- Fleming
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Fleming is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming
- Dudleytown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Dudleytown is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudleytown
- Seymour
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cortland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Cortland is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cortland
- New Elizabethtown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- New Elizabethtown is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Elizabethtown
- Brownstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Jennings County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Paris Crossing
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Paris Crossing is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris Crossing
- Commiskey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- San Jacinto
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- San Jacinto is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Jacinto
- Grayford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Grayford is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayford
- Vernon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Butlerville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Oakdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Oakdale is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- North Vernon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Four Corners
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Four Corners is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Corners
- Hayden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hayden is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayden
- Queensville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Queensville is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queensville
- Zenas
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Zenas is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenas
- Scipio
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Scipio is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scipio
- Ohio County
- Bear Branch
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bear Branch is located in Ohio County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Branch
- Ripley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Cross Plains
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Cross Plains is located in Ripley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Plains
- Holton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Versailles
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Friendship
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Otter Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Otter Village is located in Ripley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter Village
- Osgood
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Napoleon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Delaware
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Delaware is located in Ripley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaware
- Pierceville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pierceville is located in Ripley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierceville
- Milan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lookout
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lookout is located in Ripley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Blocher
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Blocher is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocher
- Albion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Albion is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Lexington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Goshen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Goshen is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Marshfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Marshfield is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshfield
- Austin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Scottsburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Switzerland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Avonburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Avonburg is located in Switzerland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avonburg
- Moorefield
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Moorefield is located in Switzerland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moorefield
- Pleasant
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Pleasant is located in Switzerland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant
- Bennington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Bennington is located in Switzerland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
- Lamb
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lamb is located in Switzerland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamb
- Mount Sterling
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Mount Sterling is located in Switzerland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Vevay
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Allensville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Allensville is located in Switzerland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allensville
- East Enterprise
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- East Enterprise is located in Switzerland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Enterprise
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Little York
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Little York is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little York
- Population from the 2020 Census: 191 people
- Bartle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bartle is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartle
- South Boston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- South Boston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Boston
- Carroll County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Locust
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Locust is located in Carroll County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust
- Prestonville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Prestonville is located in Carroll County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prestonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Carrollton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ghent
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- English
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- English is located in Carroll County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English
- Langstaff
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Langstaff is located in Carroll County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langstaff
- Easterday
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Easterday is located in Carroll County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easterday
- Worthville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Worthville is located in Carroll County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Henry County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Sulphur
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Turners Station
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Turners Station is located in Henry County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turners Station
- Campbellsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pendleton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Port Royal
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Port Royal is located in Henry County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Royal
- Oldham County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Westport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Russell Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Russell Corner is located in Oldham County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell Corner
- Goshen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Goshen is located in Oldham County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,016 people
- Harmony Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Harmony Village is located in Oldham County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Village
- La Grange
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Trimble County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Milton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Trout
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Trout is located in Trimble County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trout
- Mount Pleasant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Trimble County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Bedford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lancaster, see our County-by-County Page for Lancaster.
Cemeteries Near Lancaster ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lancaster.
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 Lancaster - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lancaster covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Clashman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- College Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Ogden Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- McKay Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Kinnear Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Nelson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lawler Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Neavill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Bland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bland Cemetery
- The Bland Cemetery has also been known as:
- Sullivan Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #84361 <2>
- Continue List (365 more) ...
- Lloyd Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Scotland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Higbie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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 Lancaster had a population of 136 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Middlefork
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Middlefork is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlefork
- Volga
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Volga is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volga
- Wirt
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wirt is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wirt
- Dupont
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Kent
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Kent is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Paris Crossing
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Paris Crossing is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris Crossing
- Paris
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Paris is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Deputy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- North Madison
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- North Madison is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Madison
- Commiskey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hanover
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Madison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Bryantsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bryantsburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryantsburg
- San Jacinto
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- San Jacinto is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Jacinto
- Lovett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lovett is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovett
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lancaster. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lancaster.
Newspapers Published in Lancaster ...
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 166 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lancaster.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lancaster, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lancaster.
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 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 Lancaster:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bartholomew County
- Clark County
- Dearborn County
- Decatur County
- Jackson County
- Jennings County
- Ohio County
- Ripley County
- Scott County
- Switzerland County
- Washington County
- Carroll County
- Henry County
- Oldham County
- Trimble 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> | 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 Lancaster, 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- Lancaster) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |