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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 Ora (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 Ora. 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 hospitals and 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.

Ora is located in Starke 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 Starke County: Fulton, Jasper, LaPorte, Marshall, Porter, Pulaski & Saint Joseph.

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

  • Starke County     (The home county of Ora)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ora, with the one closest to Ora listed first.
    • Royal Center
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Lucerne
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Lucerne is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucerne
    • Leases Corner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Verona
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Twelve Mile
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Twelve Mile is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twelve Mile
    • Lake Cicott
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Lake Cicott is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Cicott
    • Dunkirk
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Dunkirk is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkirk
    • Logansport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ora, with the one closest to Ora listed first.
    • Delong
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Lake Bruce
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Leiters Ford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Kewanna
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Kewanna is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kewanna
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 598 people
    • Grass Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Grass Creek is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grass Creek
    • Rochester
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Fulton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Athens
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Athens is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
    • Akron
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ora, with the one closest to Ora listed first.
    • Tefft
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Tefft is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tefft
    • Wheatfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Gifford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Stoutsburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Kosciusko County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ora, with the one closest to Ora listed first.
    • Mentone
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Etna Green
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Sevastopol
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Beaver Dam
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Atwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Burket
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Burket is located in Kosciusko County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burket
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
  • LaPorte County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ora, with the one closest to Ora listed first.
    • Hanna
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • La Crosse
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Kingsford Heights
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Kingsford Heights is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsford Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,379 people
    • Kankakee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Union Mills
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Kingsbury
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Kingsbury is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsbury
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
    • Wanatah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Stillwell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Haskell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Door Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Door Village is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Door Village
    • Alida
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ora, with the one closest to Ora listed first.
    • Culver
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Culver is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culver
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,484 people
    • Burr Oak
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Donaldson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Donaldson is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
    • Argos
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Plymouth
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Tyner
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Harris
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Harris is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
    • Linkville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Tippecanoe
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Old Tip Town
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Old Tip Town is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Tip Town
    • La Paz
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Bourbon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Miami County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ora, with the one closest to Ora listed first.
    • Macy
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Deedsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Deedsville is located in Miami County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deedsville
  • Porter County
  • Pulaski County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ora, with the one closest to Ora listed first.
    • Monterey
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Monterey is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
    • Beardstown
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Lawton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Winamac
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Denham
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Star City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Thornhope
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Medaryville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Francesville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Saint Joseph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ora, with the one closest to Ora listed first.
    • Walkerton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • North Liberty
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Lakeville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ora, with the one closest to Ora listed first.
    • Headlee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Buffalo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Sitka
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Monon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Burnettsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Burnettsville is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnettsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 339 people
    • Indiana Beach
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Lee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Idaville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Idaville is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idaville
    • Norway
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Ora ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ora.

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 Ora - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Ora Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • North Bend Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Center Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Cromley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • North Union Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Masonic Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • St. Peters Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Reed Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Crown Hill Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Washington Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Oak Park Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (148 more) ...
    • Burr Oak Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Crown Hill Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Memorial Gardens
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)

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 Ora had a population of 120 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Monterey
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Monterey is located in Pulaski County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
  • Winona
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Winona is located in Starke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winona
  • Ober
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Ripley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Ripley is located in Pulaski County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
  • Delong
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Winamac
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Knox
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Knox is located in Starke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,552 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Knox <1>
  • Denham
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Leiters Ford
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Maxinkuckee
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Maxinkuckee is located in Marshall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxinkuckee
  • Burr Oak
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Toto
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Hibbard
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hibbard is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hibbard
    • Rutland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rutland is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutland
    • Kewanna
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Kewanna is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kewanna
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 598 people

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

Newspapers Published in Ora ...

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 84 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ora.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ora, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ora.

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 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 Ora:

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 Ora, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Ora) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.