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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 Burr Oak (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 Burr Oak. 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 hospitals 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.

Burr Oak is located in Jewell 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 Jewell County: Cloud, Mitchell, Osborne, Republic, Smith, Nuckolls (NE) & Webster (NE).

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

  • Jewell County     (The home county of Burr Oak)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burr Oak, with the one closest to Burr Oak listed first.
    • Mankato
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Esbon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Montrose
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Montrose is located in Jewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
      • Former name for Montrose:
      • Delta
    • Webber
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Jewell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jewell is located in Jewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
    • Formoso
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Formoso is located in Jewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Formoso
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
    • Randall
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Randall is located in Jewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
  • Cloud County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burr Oak, with the one closest to Burr Oak listed first.
    • Oneonta ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Oneonta is located in Cloud County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneonta
    • Jamestown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jamestown is located in Cloud County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
  • Mitchell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burr Oak, with the one closest to Burr Oak listed first.
    • Cawker City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Glen Elder
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Beloit
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Scottsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Scottsville is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
    • Gilbert
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Gilbert is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbert
  • Osborne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burr Oak, with the one closest to Burr Oak listed first.
    • Downs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Portis
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Portis is located in Osborne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
  • Republic County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burr Oak, with the one closest to Burr Oak listed first.
    • White Rock
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • White Rock is located in Republic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
    • Courtland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Republic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Republic is located in Republic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Republic
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
    • Sherdahl
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Sherdahl is located in Republic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherdahl
    • Kackley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Kackley is located in Republic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kackley
    • Scandia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Norway
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Norway is located in Republic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway
  • Smith County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burr Oak, with the one closest to Burr Oak listed first.
    • Lebanon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Bellaire
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Bellaire is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellaire
    • Dispatch
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Dispatch is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dispatch
    • Womer
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Womer is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womer
    • Smith Center
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Harlan
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Harlan is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan
  • Franklin County (NE)
    • Riverton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Nuckolls County (NE)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burr Oak, with the one closest to Burr Oak listed first.
    • Superior
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Superior is located in Nuckolls County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Superior
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,805 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Superior <1>
    • Hardy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Hardy is located in Nuckolls County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hardy <1>
    • Nelson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Nelson is located in Nuckolls County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 442 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nelson <1>
    • Nora
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Nora is located in Nuckolls County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 19 people
    • Lawrence
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Ruskin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ruskin is located in Nuckolls County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruskin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ruskin <1>
  • Thayer County (NE)
    • Byron
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Byron is located in Thayer County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 78 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Byron <1>
  • Webster County (NE)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Burr Oak, with the one closest to Burr Oak listed first.
    • Guide Rock
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Pawnee Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Pawnee Village is located in Webster County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pawnee Village
    • Amboy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Amboy is located in Webster County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amboy
    • Red Cloud
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Cowles
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Cowles is located in Webster County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowles
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
    • Inavale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Rosemont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Rosemont is located in Webster County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemont

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

Cemeteries Near Burr Oak ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Burr Oak.

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 Burr Oak - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Burr Oak Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Baker Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Oak Creek Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Providence Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Lutheran Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Esbon Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Hope Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Teresa Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • North Branch Friends Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Cleveland Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Shaffer Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (122 more) ...
    • Lutheran Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Prairie Home Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • St. Elizabeth Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)

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 Burr Oak had a population of 597 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Burr Oak had a population of 160 people.

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

  • Otego
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Otego is located in Jewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otego
  • Esbon
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Mankato
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Northbranch
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Northbranch is located in Jewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northbranch
  • Montrose
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Montrose is located in Jewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
    • Former name for Montrose:
    • Delta
  • Lebanon
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Bostwick
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Bostwick is located in Nuckolls County (NE)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bostwick
  • Ionia
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Ionia is located in Jewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ionia
  • Guide Rock
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Dentonia
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Dentonia is located in Jewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dentonia
  • Jewell
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Jewell is located in Jewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
  • Webber
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Amboy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Amboy is located in Webster County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amboy
    • Superior
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Superior is located in Nuckolls County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Superior
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,805 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Superior <1>
    • Formoso
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Formoso is located in Jewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Formoso
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Burr Oak ...

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 55 newspapers that have been published in the area around Burr Oak.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Burr Oak. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Burr Oak and those printed in the larger area surrounding Burr Oak.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Burr Oak.

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 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 Burr Oak:

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 Burr Oak, 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- Burr Oak) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.