RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Kansas >> Gove County >> Grinnell >> Genealogy HelperIndex...










Learn About
The Commemorative
Quarter for
Kansas

The Commemorative Quarter for Kansas





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 Grinnell (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 Grinnell. 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 Grinnell ...

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 have occurred.

Grinnell has also been known as: Grinnette Springs.

Other variations include: Grannel, Grannell Springs, Grannell, Grunnel Spring and Grunnel Springs.

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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Grinnell is located in Gove County.

To see how the shape of Kansas' counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Gove County: Graham, Lane, Logan, Ness, Scott, Sheridan, Thomas & Trego.

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

  • Gove County     (The home county of Grinnell)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Grinnell, with the one closest to Grinnell listed first.
    • Grainfield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Gove City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Park
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Park have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park
      • Park is located in Gove County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
    • Quinter
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Quinter have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinter
      • Quinter is located in Gove County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,073 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Quinter <1>
  • Graham County
    • Saint Peter
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Peter have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Peter
      • Saint Peter is located in Graham County
  • Logan County
  • Sheridan County
  • Thomas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Grinnell, with the one closest to Grinnell listed first.
    • Menlo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Menlo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menlo
      • Menlo is located in Thomas County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
    • Spica
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Spica. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spica
      • Spica is located in Thomas County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Spica
      • From Grinnell to Spica
    • Rexford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Gem
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gem have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gem
      • Gem is located in Thomas County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
    • Colby
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Colby have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
      • Colby is located in Thomas County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,315 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colby <1>
  • Trego County
    • Collyer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Collyer have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collyer
      • Collyer is located in Trego County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people

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

Cemeteries Near Grinnell ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Grinnell.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Grinnell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Grinnell Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Grinnell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Immaculate Conception Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Immaculate Conception Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Immaculate Conception Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. John Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. John Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. John Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Grainfield Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Grainfield Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Grainfield Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Zion Norwegian Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Zion Norwegian Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Zion Norwegian Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Oakley Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oakley Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oakley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Joseph Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Joseph Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Gaeland Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Gove Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Gove Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Gove Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sacred Heart Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sacred Heart Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Martins Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Martins Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Martins Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Menlo Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Menlo Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Menlo Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (27 more) ...
    • St. Francis Cemetery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Francis Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Francis Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Hoxie Cemetery
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hoxie Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hoxie Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Monument Cemetery
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Monument Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Monument Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Grinnell had a population of 152 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Grinnell had a population of 226 people.

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

  • Grainfield
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Oakley
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Gove City
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Park
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Park have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park
    • Park is located in Gove County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
  • Seguin
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Seguin have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seguin
    • Seguin is located in Sheridan County
  • Menlo
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Menlo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menlo
    • Menlo is located in Thomas County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
  • Spica
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Spica. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spica
    • Spica is located in Thomas County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Spica
    • From Grinnell to Spica
  • Hoxie
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Mingo
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mingo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mingo
    • Mingo is located in Thomas County
  • Monument
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
  • Quinter
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Quinter have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinter
    • Quinter is located in Gove County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,073 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Quinter <1>
  • Rexford
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (9 more) ...
    • Tasco
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tasco have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tasco
      • Tasco is located in Sheridan County
    • Elkader
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Elkader. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkader
      • Elkader is located in Logan County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Elkader
      • From Grinnell to Elkader
    • Gem
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gem have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gem
      • Gem is located in Thomas County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Grinnell ...

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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around Grinnell.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Grinnell. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Grinnell and those printed in the larger area surrounding Grinnell.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<5> of Grinnell.

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 Grinnell:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Grinnell. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Kansas: https://portal.kansas.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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 Grinnell, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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 from Point A (ie- Grinnell) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Grinnell. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.1247, Longitude: -100.6316    









 

Copyright 2025
All Rights Reserved

Thank you for visiting our website.

In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

If you've found an error or have additional information that you would like to share, please don't hesitate to write: Click here to contact us.

This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025