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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 Idana (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 Idana. 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 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 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.

Idana is located in Clay 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 Clay County: Cloud, Dickinson, Geary, Ottawa, Riley & Washington.

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

  • Clay County     (The home county of Idana)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idana, with the one closest to Idana listed first.
    • Browndale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Browndale. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browndale
      • Browndale is located in Clay County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Browndale
      • From Idana to Browndale
    • Clay Center
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Ladysmith
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ladysmith. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladysmith
      • Ladysmith is located in Clay County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Ladysmith
      • From Idana to Ladysmith
    • Morganville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Oak Hill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Broughton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Broughton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broughton
      • Broughton is located in Clay County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Broughton
      • From Idana to Broughton
    • Garfield Center
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Oscar ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oscar have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oscar
      • Oscar is located in Clay County
    • Longford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Vining
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vining have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
      • Vining is located in Clay County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
    • Green
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Industry
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Wakefield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Cloud County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idana, with the one closest to Idana listed first.
    • Miltonvale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Saint Joseph
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Aurora
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Aurora have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
      • Aurora is located in Cloud County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
    • Ames
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Clyde
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clyde have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
      • Clyde is located in Cloud County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 647 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clyde <2>
    • Huscher
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Rice
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Cook
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cook. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook
      • Cook is located in Cloud County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cook
      • From Idana to Cook
    • Concordia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Yuma
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Yuma. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuma
      • Yuma is located in Cloud County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Yuma
      • From Idana to Yuma
    • Glasco
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glasco have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasco
      • Glasco is located in Cloud County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 448 people
      • Former names for Glasco:
      • Dell Ray
      • Glasgow
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Glasco <2>
    • Macyville ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Macyville have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macyville
      • Macyville is located in Cloud County
  • Dickinson County
  • Geary County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idana, with the one closest to Idana listed first.
    • Milford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Alida
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Alida. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alida
      • Alida is located in Geary County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Alida
      • From Idana to Alida
  • Ottawa County
  • Republic County
    • Agenda
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Agenda have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agenda
      • Agenda is located in Republic County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
  • Riley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idana, with the one closest to Idana listed first.
    • Bala
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Lasita ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lasita have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lasita
      • Lasita is located in Riley County
    • May Day
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Leonardville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Riley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Walsburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Walsburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walsburg
      • Walsburg is located in Riley County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Walsburg
      • From Idana to Walsburg
    • Winkler
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Winkler. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkler
      • Winkler is located in Riley County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Winkler
      • From Idana to Winkler
    • Randolph
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idana, with the one closest to Idana listed first.
    • Clifton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Palmer
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Kimeo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kimeo. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimeo
      • Kimeo is located in Washington County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Kimeo
      • From Idana to Kimeo
    • Brantford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Brantford. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantford
      • Brantford is located in Washington County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Brantford
      • From Idana to Brantford
    • Linn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Chepstow
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Chepstow. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chepstow
      • Chepstow is located in Washington County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Chepstow
      • From Idana to Chepstow
    • Greenleaf
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Greenleaf have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenleaf
      • Greenleaf is located in Washington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Greenleaf <2>

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

Cemeteries Near Idana ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Idana.

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

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

  • Lincoln Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lincoln Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lincoln Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Wilson Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Wilson Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Shields Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Shields Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Shields Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Republican City Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Republican City Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Republican City Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Bloom Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bloom Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bloom Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Pleasant Valley Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pleasant Valley Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pleasant Valley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Zion Lutheran Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Zion Lutheran Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Zion Lutheran Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Greenwood Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Greenwood Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Smith Gravesite
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Wesleyan Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Morganville Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Morganville Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Morganville Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (152 more) ...

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Idana had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Clay Center
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Oak Hill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Morganville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Miltonvale
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Broughton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Broughton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broughton
    • Broughton is located in Clay County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Broughton
    • From Idana to Broughton
  • Saint Joseph
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Longford
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Clifton
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Vining
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vining have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
    • Vining is located in Clay County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
  • Green
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Aurora
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Aurora have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
    • Aurora is located in Cloud County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
  • Industry
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Wakefield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Clyde
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clyde have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
      • Clyde is located in Cloud County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 647 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clyde <2>
    • Bala
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Idana ...

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 48 newspapers that have been published in the area around Idana.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Idana. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Idana and those printed in the larger area surrounding Idana.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5> of Idana.

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 Idana:

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

The official website for Clay County: www.claycountyks.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>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- Idana) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Idana. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.3585, Longitude: -97.2649       In this case, the coordinates for Idana have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>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 Idana, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025