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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 May Day (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 May Day. 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 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.

May Day is located in Riley 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 Riley County: Clay, Geary, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee & Washington.

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

  • Riley County     (The home county of May Day)
    • The following are listed by their distance from May Day, with the one closest to May Day listed first.
    • Winkler
      (4 miles [6.4 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 May Day to Winkler
    • Lasita ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lasita have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lasita
      • Lasita is located in Riley County
    • Walsburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • 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 May Day to Walsburg
    • Leonardville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Randolph
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Bala
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Riley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Keats
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Eureka Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eureka Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Lake
      • Eureka Lake is located in Riley County
    • Manhattan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Ogden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Fairmont
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Ashland ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ashland came from an uncertain source and they still need to be verified:<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
      • Ashland is located in Riley County
      • Ashland has also been known as:
      • Ashland Bottoms
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from May Day, with the one closest to May Day listed first.
    • Green
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Garfield Center
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Oscar ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oscar have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oscar
      • Oscar is located in Clay County
    • Broughton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • 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 May Day to Broughton
    • Clay Center
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Morganville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Wakefield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Idana
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Idana. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idana
      • Idana is located in Clay County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Idana
      • From May Day to Idana
    • Vining
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vining have been provided by the GNIS.<2> 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
    • Ladysmith
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • 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 May Day to Ladysmith
    • Browndale
      (25 miles [40.2 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 May Day to Browndale
    • Industry
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Oak Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Cloud County
    • The following are listed by their distance from May Day, with the one closest to May Day listed first.
    • Clyde
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clyde have been provided by the GNIS.<2> 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 <3>
    • Saint Joseph
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Ames
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Miltonvale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Dickinson County
    • Upland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Upland. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upland
      • Upland is located in Dickinson County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Upland
      • From May Day to Upland
  • Geary County
    • The following are listed by their distance from May Day, with the one closest to May Day listed first.
    • Milford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Alida
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • 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 May Day to Alida
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from May Day, with the one closest to May Day listed first.
    • Waterville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Blue Rapids
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blue Rapids have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Rapids
      • Blue Rapids is located in Marshall County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Blue Rapids <3>
    • Irving ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Irving. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
      • Irving is located in Marshall County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Irving
      • From May Day to Irving
    • Alcove Spring ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Marysville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bremen
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Carden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Carden. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carden
      • Carden is located in Marshall County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Carden
      • From May Day to Carden
    • Winifred
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Frankfort
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Pottawatomie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from May Day, with the one closest to May Day listed first.
    • Olsburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Olsburg have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olsburg
      • Olsburg is located in Pottawatomie County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 223 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olsburg <3>
    • Fostoria
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fostoria. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
      • Fostoria is located in Pottawatomie County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Fostoria
      • From May Day to Fostoria
    • Blaine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Westmoreland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from May Day, with the one closest to May Day listed first.
    • Kimeo
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • 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 May Day to Kimeo
    • Chepstow
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • 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 May Day to Chepstow
    • Barnes
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Linn
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Palmer
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenleaf
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Greenleaf have been provided by the GNIS.<2> 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 <3>
    • Clifton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Washington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Hanover
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hanover have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
      • Hanover is located in Washington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 650 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hanover <3>
    • Morrowville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Brantford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • 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 May Day to Brantford
    • Blocker ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Blocker. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocker
      • Blocker is located in Washington County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Blocker
      • From May Day to Blocker

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

Cemeteries Near May Day ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of May Day.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from May Day, with the one closest to May Day 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.<7>

While we didn't find May Day in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of May Day.

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

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

Newspapers Published in May Day ...

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 91 newspapers that have been published in the area around May Day.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of May Day, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for May Day.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 May Day:

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

The official website for Riley County: www.rileycountyks.gov

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>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>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>If we found a location and have questions about the accuracy of our information, we will simply say that the marker is 'in the vicinity'. We are not confident about the location and the position of our marker is only a rough guide. If we have too many doubts about the location, we will not include it in our database.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- May Day) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in May Day. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.4931, Longitude: -96.9134    
<6>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.
<7>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 May Day, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025