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 Blue Rapids (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 Blue Rapids. 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.
Name Variations for Blue Rapids ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Blue Rapids: Blue Rpds.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Blue Rapids is located in Marshall 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 Marshall County: Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley, Washington, Gage (NE) & Pawnee (NE).
Below are the counties that are near Blue Rapids. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blue Rapids:
- Marshall County (The home county of Blue Rapids)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rapids, with the one closest to Blue Rapids listed first.
- Irving ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Irving is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Waterville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Alcove Spring ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Alcove Spring is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcove Spring
- Carden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Carden is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carden
- Marysville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Winifred
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Winifred is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winifred
- Frankfort
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Frankfort is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 689 people
- Home
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bremen
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bremen is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremen
- Beattie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Beattie is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beattie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
- Marietta
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Marietta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- Oketo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Oketo is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oketo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 70 people
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rapids, with the one closest to Blue Rapids listed first.
- Green
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Garfield Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Garfield Center is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield Center
- Oscar ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Oscar is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oscar
- Nemaha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rapids, with the one closest to Blue Rapids listed first.
- Baileyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Baileyville is located in Nemaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileyville
- Centralia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Pottawatomie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rapids, with the one closest to Blue Rapids listed first.
- Olsburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Blaine
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Blaine is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blaine
- Fostoria
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Fostoria is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
- Wheaton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wheaton is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheaton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Westmoreland
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Duluth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Duluth is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duluth
- Onaga
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Riley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rapids, with the one closest to Blue Rapids listed first.
- Winkler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Winkler is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkler
- Randolph
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Randolph is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- May Day
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- May Day is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May Day
- Walsburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Walsburg is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walsburg
- Lasita ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lasita is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lasita
- Leonardville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Leonardville is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leonardville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 432 people
- Leonardville has also been known as:
- Leonard
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leonardville <1>
- Riley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Riley is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 955 people
- Former names for Riley:
- Riley Center
- Union
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Riley <1>
- Bala
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bala is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bala
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rapids, with the one closest to Blue Rapids listed first.
- Barnes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Chepstow
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Chepstow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chepstow
- Greenleaf
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Hanover
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Kimeo
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Kimeo is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimeo
- Washington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Linn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Lanham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lanham is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanham
- Palmer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Palmer is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Hollenberg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hollenberg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollenberg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20 people
- Morrowville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Morrowville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrowville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Gage County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rapids, with the one closest to Blue Rapids listed first.
- Barneston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lanham
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lanham is located in Gage County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanham
- Odell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Liberty
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Wymore
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blue Rapids, see our County-by-County Page for Blue Rapids.
Cemeteries Near Blue Rapids ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blue Rapids.
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 Blue Rapids - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blue Rapids covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blue Rapids, with the one closest to Blue Rapids listed first.
- Fairmont Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Prospect Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Saville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Elm Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Riverside Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Harbaugh Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Edinborough Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cottage Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- St. Weneceslaus Catholic Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Antioch Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (165 more) ...
- Keefover Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kenyon Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Czech - Moravian Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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 Blue Rapids had a population of 905 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Blue Rapids had a population of 960 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Blue Rapids, with the one closest to Blue Rapids listed first.
- Irving ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Irving is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Waterville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Schroyer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Schroyer is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schroyer
- Reedsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Reedsville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedsville
- Reedsville has also been known as:
- Hazelville
- Marysville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Barnes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Chepstow
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Chepstow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chepstow
- Frankfort
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Frankfort is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 689 people
- Home
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Herkimer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Herkimer is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herkimer
- Winkler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Winkler is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkler
- Bremen
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bremen is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremen
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Randolph
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Randolph is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Olsburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Vliets
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Vliets is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vliets
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blue Rapids. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blue Rapids.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Blue Rapids ...
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 174 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blue Rapids.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Blue Rapids. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Blue Rapids and those printed in the larger area surrounding Blue Rapids.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Blue Rapids.
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 Blue Rapids:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to Marshall County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Nemaha County
- Pottawatomie County
- Riley County
- Washington County
- Gage County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Kansas
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 Blue Rapids, 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 from Point A (ie- Blue Rapids) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |