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 Galva (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 Galva. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.
Galva is located in McPherson 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 McPherson County: Dickinson, Ellsworth, Harvey, Marion, Reno, Rice & Saline.
Below are the counties that are near Galva. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Galva:
- McPherson County (The home county of Galva)
- The following are listed by their distance from Galva, with the one closest to Galva listed first.
- Canton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- McPherson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Elyria
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Elyria is located in McPherson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elyria
- Moundridge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Groveland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Groveland is located in McPherson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveland
- Roxbury
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Roxbury is located in McPherson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxbury
- Conway
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Conway is located in McPherson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
- Lindsborg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Inman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Marquette
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Windom
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Windom is located in McPherson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windom
- Population from the 2020 Census: 125 people
- Dickinson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Galva, with the one closest to Galva listed first.
- Carlton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Carlton is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Elmo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Elmo is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Holland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Holland is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
- Dillon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dillon is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
- Ellsworth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Galva, with the one closest to Galva listed first.
- Langley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Langley is located in Ellsworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langley
- Venango
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Venango is located in Ellsworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venango
- Harvey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Galva, with the one closest to Galva listed first.
- Hesston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Alta Mills ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Alta Mills is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta Mills
- Zimmerdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Zimmerdale is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimmerdale
- North Newton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Walton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Burrton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Burrton is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 854 people
- Paxton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Paxton is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paxton
- Newton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Halstead
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- McGraw
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- McGraw is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGraw
- Van Arsdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Van Arsdale is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Arsdale
- Putnam
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Putnam is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Galva, with the one closest to Galva listed first.
- Waldeck
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Waldeck is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldeck
- Lehigh
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lehigh is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lehigh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
- Goessel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Goessel is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goessel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 489 people
- Hillsboro
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Durham
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Durham is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
- Canada
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Canada is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada
- Tampa
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Eastshore
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Eastshore is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastshore
- Aulne ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Aulne is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aulne
- Pilsen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Pilsen is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilsen
- Peabody
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Peabody is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peabody
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,079 people
- Former name for Peabody:
- Coneburgh
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Peabody <1>
- Marion
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Reno County
- The following are listed by their distance from Galva, with the one closest to Galva listed first.
- Buhler
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Buhler is located in Reno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buhler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,269 people
- Buhler has also been known as:
- Tulip Town
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Buhler <1>
- Medora
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Medora is located in Reno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medora
- Obeeville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Obeeville is located in Reno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obeeville
- Punkin Center ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Punkin Center is located in Reno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Punkin Center
- Hutchinson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rice County
- The following are listed by their distance from Galva, with the one closest to Galva listed first.
- Little River
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Crawford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Crawford is located in Rice County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Galt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Galt is located in Rice County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galt
- Mitchell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mitchell is located in Rice County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Saline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Galva, with the one closest to Galva listed first.
- Bridgeport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Bridgeport is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Hallville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Hallville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallville
- Assaria
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Gypsum
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Salemsborg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Salemsborg is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salemsborg
- Falun
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Mentor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Mentor is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mentor
- Smolan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Smolan is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smolan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 203 people
- Kipp
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Kipp is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kipp
- Phillips Village ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Phillips Village is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillips Village
- Salina
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bavaria
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bavaria is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bavaria
- Bavaria has also been known as:
- Houch
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Galva, see our County-by-County Page for Galva.
Cemeteries Near Galva ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Galva.
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 Galva - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Galva covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Galva, with the one closest to Galva listed first.
- Empire Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Dunkard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- McPherson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Canton Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Township Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lone Tree Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Crestwood Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jones Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Oakes Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Koons Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koons Cemetery
- The Koons Cemetery has also been known as:
- Koon Cemetery
- Meridian Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Zion Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (105 more) ...
- Smoky Hill Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoky Hill Cemetery
- The Smoky Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
- Kentucky Creek Cemetery
- Springfield Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lehigh Mennonite Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Galva had a population of 255 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Galva had a population of 887 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Galva, with the one closest to Galva listed first.
- Canton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- McPherson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Elyria
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Elyria is located in McPherson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elyria
- Hilton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hilton is located in McPherson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton
- West Johnson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- West Johnson is located in McPherson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Johnson
- West Johnson has also been known as:
- Johnstown
- Waldeck
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Waldeck is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldeck
- Groveland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Groveland is located in McPherson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveland
- Moundridge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Lehigh
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lehigh is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lehigh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
- Roxbury
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Roxbury is located in McPherson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxbury
- Conway
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Conway is located in McPherson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
- Lindsborg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Inman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bridgeport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Bridgeport is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Hesston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Galva. See our List of 1890's Communities around Galva.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Galva ...
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 62 newspapers that have been published in the area around Galva.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Galva. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Galva and those printed in the larger area surrounding Galva.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Galva.
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 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 Galva:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to McPherson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dickinson County
- Ellsworth County
- Harvey County
- Marion County
- Reno County
- Rice County
- Saline 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> | 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 Galva, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Galva) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |