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 Gridley (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 Gridley. 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 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.
Gridley is located in Coffey 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 Coffey County: Allen, Anderson, Franklin, Greenwood, Lyon, Osage & Woodson.
Below are the counties that are near Gridley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gridley:
- Coffey County (The home county of Gridley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gridley, with the one closest to Gridley listed first.
- Burlington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jacobs Creek Landing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Jacobs Creek Landing is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacobs Creek Landing
- Le Roy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ottumwa
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Ottumwa is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottumwa
- New Strawn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Aliceville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Aliceville is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aliceville
- Halls Summit
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Halls Summit is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Summit
- Lebo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Waverly
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Agricola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Agricola is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agricola
- Allen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gridley, with the one closest to Gridley listed first.
- Geneva
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Geneva is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
- Carlyle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Carlyle is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlyle
- Bassett
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bassett is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Iola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gridley, with the one closest to Gridley listed first.
- Westphalia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Westphalia is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westphalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Colony
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Colony is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 424 people
- Harris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Harris is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Mont Ida
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Mont Ida is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Ida
- Central City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Central City is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Former name for Central City:
- Jerome
- Central City has also been known as:
- Central
- Greenwood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gridley, with the one closest to Gridley listed first.
- Lamont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Virgil
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Virgil is located in Greenwood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgil
- Population from the 2020 Census: 62 people
- Madison
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Hamilton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Neal
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Neal is located in Greenwood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neal
- Lapland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Lapland is located in Greenwood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapland
- Eureka
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lyon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gridley, with the one closest to Gridley listed first.
- Hartford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Olpe
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Neosho Rapids
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Neosho Rapids is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neosho Rapids
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Emporia Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Emporia Junction is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emporia Junction
- Emporia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Berkeley Hills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Berkeley Hills is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkeley Hills
- Lang
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lang is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lang
- Lang has also been known as:
- Hortonville
- Merrick
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Merrick is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrick
- Reading
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Osage County
- Olivet
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Olivet is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
- Wilson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gridley, with the one closest to Gridley listed first.
- Middletown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Middletown is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Buffalo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Buffalo is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
- Coyville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Coyville is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
- South Ridge ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- South Ridge is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ridge
- Woodson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gridley, with the one closest to Gridley listed first.
- Vernon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Vernon is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Hasty
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hasty is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasty
- Durand
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Durand is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durand
- Yates Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Neosho Falls
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Neosho Falls is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neosho Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Batesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Batesville is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batesville
- Athens
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Athens is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
- Toronto
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Piqua
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rose
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Rose is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose
- Cookville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cookville is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cookville
- North Ridge ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- North Ridge is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Ridge
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gridley, see our County-by-County Page for Gridley.
Cemeteries Near Gridley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gridley.
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 Gridley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gridley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gridley, with the one closest to Gridley listed first.
- Gridley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Teachout Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Apostolic Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fairhope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elk Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cola Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Big Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Nickletown Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Baker Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Siria Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Graceland Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (126 more) ...
- Askren Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Crandell Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Gridley had a population of 146 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Gridley had a population of 323 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gridley, with the one closest to Gridley listed first.
- Lamont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hilltop
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Hilltop is located in Greenwood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
- Burlington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Virgil
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Virgil is located in Greenwood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgil
- Population from the 2020 Census: 62 people
- Le Roy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- New Strawn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ottumwa
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Ottumwa is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottumwa
- Madison
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Hartford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Vernon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Vernon is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Quincy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Quincy is located in Greenwood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Sharpe
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sharpe is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpe
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Hamilton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Yates Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Batesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Batesville is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batesville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gridley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gridley.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Gridley ...
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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gridley.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Gridley. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Gridley and those printed in the larger area surrounding Gridley.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3> of Gridley.
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 either 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 Gridley:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to Coffey County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allen County
- Anderson County
- Greenwood County
- Lyon County
- Osage County
- Wilson County
- Woodson 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 Gridley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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 drawn from Point A (ie- Gridley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |