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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 Harper (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 Harper. 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 southeast 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 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.

Harper is located in Harper 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 Harper County: Barber, Kingman, Sumner, Alfalfa (OK) & Grant (OK).

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

  • Harper County     (The home county of Harper)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harper, with the one closest to Harper listed first.
    • Danville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Duquoin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Runnymede
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Runnymede. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runnymede
      • Runnymede is located in Harper County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Runnymede
      • From Harper to Runnymede
    • Anthony
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Freeport
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Attica
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Attica have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
      • Attica is located in Harper County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 547 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Attica <2>
    • Bluff City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bluff City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
      • Bluff City is located in Harper County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
    • Ruella
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ruella have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruella
      • Ruella is located in Harper County
    • Crisfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Crisfield. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crisfield
      • Crisfield is located in Harper County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Crisfield
      • From Harper to Crisfield
    • Waldron
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Waldron have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldron
      • Waldron is located in Harper County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10 people
  • Barber County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harper, with the one closest to Harper listed first.
    • Sharon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sharon have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
      • Sharon is located in Barber County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 142 people
      • Former name for Sharon:
      • Bible Valley
    • Hazelton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Pixley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pixley. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pixley
      • Pixley is located in Barber County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Pixley
      • From Harper to Pixley
    • Gerlane
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Gerlane. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gerlane
      • Gerlane is located in Barber County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Gerlane
      • From Harper to Gerlane
    • Medicine Lodge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Kingman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harper, with the one closest to Harper listed first.
    • Rago
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rago have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rago
      • Rago is located in Kingman County
    • Adams
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Adams. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
      • Adams is located in Kingman County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Adams
      • From Harper to Adams
    • Spivey
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Norwich
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Norwich have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwich
      • Norwich is located in Kingman County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Norwich <2>
    • Belmont
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Zenda
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Zenda have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenda
      • Zenda is located in Kingman County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 76 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Zenda <2>
    • Alameda
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Alameda. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alameda
      • Alameda is located in Kingman County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Alameda
      • From Harper to Alameda
    • Willowdale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Murdock
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Murdock have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murdock
      • Murdock is located in Kingman County
    • Nashville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Kingman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
  • Sedgwick County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harper, with the one closest to Harper listed first.
    • Anness
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Anness. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anness
      • Anness is located in Sedgwick County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Anness
      • From Harper to Anness
    • Viola
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Viola have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
      • Viola is located in Sedgwick County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Viola <2>
    • Cheney
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Sumner County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harper, with the one closest to Harper listed first.
    • Argonia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Milton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Milton have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton
      • Milton is located in Sumner County
    • Ewell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ewell. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
      • Ewell is located in Sumner County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Ewell
      • From Harper to Ewell
    • Milan
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Conway Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Doster
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Doster. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
      • Doster is located in Sumner County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Doster
      • From Harper to Doster
    • Mayfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mayfield have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
      • Mayfield is located in Sumner County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
    • Anson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Anson. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anson
      • Anson is located in Sumner County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Anson
      • From Harper to Anson
    • Millerton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Millerton have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
      • Millerton is located in Sumner County
    • Corbin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Caldwell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Perth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Perth. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perth
      • Perth is located in Sumner County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Perth
      • From Harper to Perth
  • Alfalfa County (OK)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harper, with the one closest to Harper listed first.
    • Amorita
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Amorita have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amorita
      • Amorita is located in Alfalfa County (OK)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 38 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Amorita <2>
    • Byron
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Byron have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byron
      • Byron is located in Alfalfa County (OK)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
  • Grant County (OK)

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

Cemeteries Near Harper ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Harper.

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 Harper covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Harper had a population of 1,579 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Harper had a population of 1,293 people.

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

  • Crystal Springs
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crystal Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Springs
    • Crystal Springs is located in Harper County
  • Duquoin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Danville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Runnymede
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Runnymede. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runnymede
    • Runnymede is located in Harper County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Runnymede
    • From Harper to Runnymede
  • Anthony
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Attica
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Attica have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
    • Attica is located in Harper County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 547 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Attica <2>
  • Rago
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rago have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rago
    • Rago is located in Kingman County
  • Freeport
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Spivey
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Argonia
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
  • Norwich
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Norwich have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwich
    • Norwich is located in Kingman County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Norwich <2>
  • Ruella
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ruella have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruella
    • Ruella is located in Harper County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Bluff City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bluff City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
      • Bluff City is located in Harper County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
    • Belmont
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Crisfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Crisfield. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crisfield
      • Crisfield is located in Harper County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Crisfield
      • From Harper to Crisfield

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Harper ...

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 114 newspapers that have been published in the area around Harper.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Harper. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Harper and those printed in the larger area surrounding Harper.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6> of Harper.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Harper:

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

The official website for Harper County: www.harpercounty.org/

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

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<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 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.
<4>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.
<5>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 Harper, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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- Harper) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Harper. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 37.2867, Longitude: -98.0260    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025