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 Highland Park (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 Highland Park. 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.
Highland Park is located in Shawnee 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 Shawnee County: Douglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, Pottawatomie & Wabaunsee.
Below are the counties that are near Highland Park. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Highland Park:
- Shawnee County (The home county of Highland Park)
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland Park, with the one closest to Highland Park listed first.
- Topeka
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- North Topeka
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- North Topeka is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Topeka
- Oakland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Oakland is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Tecumseh
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pauline
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pauline is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pauline
- Berryton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Berryton is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryton
- Cullen Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cullen Village is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullen Village
- Watson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Watson is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Spencer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Spencer is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
- Kiro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Kiro is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiro
- Silver Lake
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Richland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Richland is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
- Auburn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Auburn is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,203 people
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland Park, with the one closest to Highland Park listed first.
- Big Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Big Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Grover
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Grover is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grover
- Stull
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Stull is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stull
- Lecompton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Kanwaka
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Kanwaka is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanwaka
- Kanwaka has also been known as:
- Kanawha
- Kannaka
- Kanwaca
- Clinton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clinton is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Lone Star
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lone Star is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
- Lawrence
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Globe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Globe is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Midland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Midland is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
- Bismarck Grove ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bismarck Grove is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bismarck Grove
- Pleasant Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- Worden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Worden is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worden
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland Park, with the one closest to Highland Park listed first.
- Centropolis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Centropolis is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centropolis
- Pomona
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland Park, with the one closest to Highland Park listed first.
- Hoyt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Mayetta
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Delia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Delia is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 176 people
- Denison
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Birmingham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Birmingham is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Larkinburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Larkinburg is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larkinburg
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland Park, with the one closest to Highland Park listed first.
- Grantville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Grantville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantville
- Newman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Newman is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newman
- Meriden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Medina
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Medina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medina
- Thompsonville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Thompsonville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsonville
- Hilldale South
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hilldale South is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilldale South
- Hilldale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hilldale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilldale
- Lake Ridge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Ridge is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ridge
- Perry
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- West Shore
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- West Shore is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Shore
- Indian Ridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Ridge is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Ridge
- Lakeside Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lakeside Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside Village
- Rock Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Leavenworth County
- Fall Leaf
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Fall Leaf is located in Leavenworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Leaf
- Osage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland Park, with the one closest to Highland Park listed first.
- Mineral Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Mineral Springs is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Carbondale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Carbondale is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbondale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,347 people
- Overbrook
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Scranton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Burlingame
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Burlingame is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
- Former name for Burlingame:
- American Settlement
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Burlingame <1>
- Peterton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Peterton is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterton
- Vassar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Lyndon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Osage City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Pottawatomie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland Park, with the one closest to Highland Park listed first.
- Saint Marys
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Emmett
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Belvue
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Belvue is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvue
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Wabaunsee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland Park, with the one closest to Highland Park listed first.
- Maple Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Harveyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harveyville is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harveyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Vera
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Vera is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vera
- Wilmington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wilmington is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Eskridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Eskridge is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eskridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 502 people
- Paxico
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- McFarland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- 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 Highland Park, see our County-by-County Page for Highland Park.
Cemeteries Near Highland Park ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Highland Park.
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 Highland Park - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Highland Park covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Highland Park, with the one closest to Highland Park listed first.
- Mt. Auburn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Auburn Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Auburn Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Topeka.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #93094 <2>
- Topeka Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topeka Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Topeka Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Topeka.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #93916 <2>
- Foster Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Topeka State Hospital Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lynn Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Penwell - Gabel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penwell - Gabel Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Penwell - Gabel Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Topeka.
- The Penwell - Gabel Cemetery has also been known as:
- Memorial Park Cemetery
- Pen Well - Gabel Cemetery
- Penwell Gabel Memorial Park
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #93016 <2>
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Hope Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Hope Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Topeka.
- The Mt. Hope Cemetery has also been known as:
- Fairlawn Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #93131 <2>
- Elevation Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Boys Industrial School Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bauer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (159 more) ...
- Security Benefit Association Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Rochester Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Emmanuel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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.<3>
While we didn't find Highland Park in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Highland Park.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Highland Park, with the one closest to Highland Park listed first.
- Topeka
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Oakland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Oakland is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- North Topeka
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- North Topeka is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Topeka
- Pauline
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pauline is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pauline
- Tecumseh
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Berryton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Berryton is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryton
- Watson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Watson is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Grantville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Grantville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantville
- Menoken
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Menoken is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menoken
- Spencer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Spencer is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
- Elmont
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Elmont is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmont
- Wakarusa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Big Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Big Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Auburn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Auburn is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,203 people
- Richland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Richland is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Highland Park. See our List of 1890's Communities around Highland Park.
Newspapers Published in Highland Park ...
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 217 newspapers that have been published in the area around Highland Park.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Highland Park, 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 Highland Park.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Highland Park:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to Shawnee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Douglas County
- Franklin County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Leavenworth County
- Osage County
- Pottawatomie County
- Wabaunsee 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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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 Highland Park, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Highland Park) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |