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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 Almena (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 Almena. 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.

Almena is located in Norton County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Norton County: Decatur, Graham, Phillips, Sheridan, Furnas (NE) & Harlan (NE).

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

  • Norton County     (The home county of Almena)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
    • Norton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Densmore
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Densmore is located in Norton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Densmore
    • Oronoque
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Oronoque is located in Norton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oronoque
    • Edmond
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Edmond is located in Norton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
      • Edmond has also been known as:
      • Edmond City
    • Dellvale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Dellvale is located in Norton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dellvale
    • Rockwell City ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Rockwell City is located in Norton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwell City
    • Lenora
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Clayton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Clayton is located in Norton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
  • Decatur County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
    • Norcatur
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Norcatur is located in Decatur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norcatur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 142 people
    • Lyle
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Lyle is located in Decatur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyle
  • Graham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
    • Roscoe
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Roscoe is located in Graham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
    • Smithfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Smithfield is located in Graham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithfield
  • Phillips County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
    • Prairie View
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Prairie View is located in Phillips County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie View
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Long Island
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Long Island is located in Phillips County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Island
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Stuttgart
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Stuttgart is located in Phillips County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stuttgart
    • Logan
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Speed
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Speed is located in Phillips County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speed
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
    • Phillipsburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Glade
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Glade is located in Phillips County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
  • Furnas County (NE)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
    • Beaver City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Hollinger
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Hollinger is located in Furnas County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollinger
    • Hendley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Oxford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Oxford is located in Furnas County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 711 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oxford <1>
    • Wilsonville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Edison
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Edison is located in Furnas County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edison
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Edison <1>
    • Arapahoe
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Harlan County (NE)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
    • Stamford
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Flynn Junction
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Flynn Junction is located in Harlan County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flynn Junction
    • Orleans
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Alma
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Alma is located in Harlan County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,116 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alma <1>
    • Mascot
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Mascot is located in Harlan County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mascot
    • Republican City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Almena ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Almena.

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

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

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

  • Mt. Hope Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Carlson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Farmingdale Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Zellmer Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Vineman Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineman Cemetery
    • The Vineman Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Veneman Family Cemetery
    • Vineman Family Cemetery
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Sheley Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Mt. Olive Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Prairie View Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Norton Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Luctor Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Long Island Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (68 more) ...
    • Delimont Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delimont Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Delimont Cemetery is located 9 miles [14.5 km]<3> to the south of Stamford (NE).
      • The Delimont Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Home Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #100794 <2>
    • Maple Creek Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Creek Cemetery
      • The Maple Creek Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Precept Cemetery
    • German Lutheran Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)

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 Almena had a population of 366 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Almena had a population of 376 people.

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

  • Calvert
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Calvert is located in Norton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvert
  • Prairie View
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Prairie View is located in Phillips County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie View
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
  • Norton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Long Island
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Long Island is located in Phillips County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Island
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
  • Precept
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Precept is located in Furnas County (NE)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Precept
  • Stuttgart
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Stuttgart is located in Phillips County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stuttgart
  • Woodruff
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Woodruff is located in Phillips County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodruff
  • Densmore
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Densmore is located in Norton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Densmore
  • Logan
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Stamford
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
  • Oronoque
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Oronoque is located in Norton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oronoque
  • Beaver City
    (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Dellvale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Dellvale is located in Norton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dellvale
    • Edmond
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Edmond is located in Norton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
      • Edmond has also been known as:
      • Edmond City
    • Devizes
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Devizes is located in Norton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devizes

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Almena ...

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 161 newspapers that have been published in the area around Almena.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Almena. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Almena and those printed in the larger area surrounding Almena.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Almena.

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 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 Almena:

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>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- Almena) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Almena, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.