Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Downing. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Downing to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Downing, please Contact Us.
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 Downing (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 Downing. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Downing is historic, it would have been located within present day Morris 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 Morris County: Chase, Dickinson, Geary, Lyon, Marion & Wabaunsee.
Below are the counties that are near Downing. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Downing:
- Morris County (The home county of Downing)
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Kelso
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Kelso is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
- Parkerville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Parkerville is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
- Dwight
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Dwight is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwight
- Population from the 2020 Census: 255 people
- Helmick
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Helmick is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helmick
- Council Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Council Grove is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,100 people
- Council Grove has also been known as:
- Council
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Council Grove <2>
- Wilsey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wilsey is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 142 people
- White City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Skiddy ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Skiddy is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skiddy
- Delavan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Delavan is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan
- Latimer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Latimer is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latimer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 19 people
- Dunlap
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dunlap is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- Population from the 2020 Census: 29 people
- Diamond Springs ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Diamond Springs is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Springs
- Chase County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Hymer
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Hymer is located in Chase County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hymer
- Rockland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Rockland is located in Chase County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Neva
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Neva is located in Chase County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neva
- Neva has also been known as:
- Neva Station
- Strong City
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Strong City is located in Chase County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strong City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 446 people
- Strong City has also been known as:
- Strong
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Strong City <2>
- Toledo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Toledo is located in Chase County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toledo
- Cottonwood Falls
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ellinor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ellinor is located in Chase County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellinor
- Elmdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Saffordville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Saffordville is located in Chase County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saffordville
- Gladstone
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Gladstone is located in Chase County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
- Dickinson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Lyona
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lyona is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyona
- Herington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Woodbine
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Rishel
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Rishel is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rishel
- Jacobs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Jacobs is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacobs
- Hope
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Navarre
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Navarre is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navarre
- Chapman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Geary County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Wreford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wreford is located in Geary County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wreford
- Grandview Plaza
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Grandview Plaza is located in Geary County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview Plaza
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,553 people
- Junction City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kansas Falls
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kansas Falls is located in Geary County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kansas Falls
- Lyon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Agnes City ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Agnes City is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnes City
- Bushong
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bushong is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushong
- Population from the 2020 Census: 33 people
- Allen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Allen is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 169 people
- Americus
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Admire
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Plymouth
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Plymouth is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth
- Merrick
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Merrick is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrick
- Berkeley Hills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Berkeley Hills is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkeley Hills
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Lost Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lincolnville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lincolnville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 191 people
- Ramona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Ramona is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Ramona has also been known as:
- Ramona Station
- Antelope
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Antelope is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antelope
- Riley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Ashland ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Ashland is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Ashland has also been known as:
- Ashland Bottoms
- Ogden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Pillsbury Crossing ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Pillsbury Crossing is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pillsbury Crossing
- Eureka Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Eureka Lake is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Lake
- Fairmont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Fairmont is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmont
- Zeandale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Zeandale is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeandale
- Wabaunsee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Alta Vista
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Alma
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Eskridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Eskridge is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eskridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 502 people
- McFarland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- McFarland is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McFarland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 250 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Downing, see our County-by-County Page for Downing.
Cemeteries Near Downing ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Downing.
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 Downing - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Downing covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Kelso Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Ramsey - Black Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Parker - Highland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Calvary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Garfield Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Swartz Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Highland Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Burton Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Dwight Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wilsey Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bemoan Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (115 more) ...
- Alta Vista Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Quaker Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Moss Springs Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
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.
Downing itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Kelso
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Kelso is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
- Parkerville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Parkerville is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
- Helmick
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Helmick is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helmick
- Dwight
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Dwight is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwight
- Population from the 2020 Census: 255 people
- Wilsey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wilsey is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 142 people
- Alta Vista
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- White City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Delavan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Delavan is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan
- Skiddy ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Skiddy is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skiddy
- Latimer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Latimer is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latimer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 19 people
- Diamond Springs ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Diamond Springs is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Springs
- Dunlap
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dunlap is located in Morris County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- Population from the 2020 Census: 29 people
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Volland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Volland is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volland
- Hymer
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Hymer is located in Chase County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hymer
- Bushong
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bushong is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushong
- Population from the 2020 Census: 33 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Downing. See our List of 1890's Communities around Downing.
Newspapers Published in Downing ...
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 99 newspapers that have been published in the area around Downing.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Downing, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Downing.
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 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 Downing:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to Morris County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chase County
- Dickinson County
- Geary County
- Lyon County
- Marion County
- Riley County
- Wabaunsee County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Kansas
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Downing, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Downing) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |