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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 Neosho Rapids (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 Neosho Rapids. 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 Neosho Rapids ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Neosho Rapids: Neosho Rpds.

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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

Neosho Rapids is located in Lyon 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 Lyon County: Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Morris, Osage & Wabaunsee.

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

  • Lyon County     (The home county of Neosho Rapids)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Neosho Rapids, with the one closest to Neosho Rapids listed first.
    • Hartford
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hartford have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
      • Hartford is located in Lyon County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 368 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hartford <2>
    • Lang
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lang. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lang
      • Lang is located in Lyon County
      • Lang has also been known as:
      • Hortonville
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Lang
      • From Neosho Rapids to Lang
    • Emporia Junction
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Emporia Junction have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emporia Junction
      • Emporia Junction is located in Lyon County
    • Reading
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reading have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reading
      • Reading is located in Lyon County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Reading <2>
    • Emporia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Olpe
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Olpe have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olpe
      • Olpe is located in Lyon County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 530 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olpe <2>
    • Berkeley Hills
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Berkeley Hills have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkeley Hills
      • Berkeley Hills is located in Lyon County
    • Merrick
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Merrick. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrick
      • Merrick is located in Lyon County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Merrick
      • From Neosho Rapids to Merrick
    • Americus
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Miller
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Plymouth
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Plymouth have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth
      • Plymouth is located in Lyon County
    • Admire
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Admire have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Admire
      • Admire is located in Lyon County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Admire <2>
  • Anderson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Neosho Rapids, with the one closest to Neosho Rapids listed first.
    • Harris
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Westphalia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Westphalia have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westphalia
      • Westphalia is located in Anderson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
  • Chase County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Neosho Rapids, with the one closest to Neosho Rapids listed first.
    • Toledo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Toledo. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toledo
      • Toledo is located in Chase County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Toledo
      • From Neosho Rapids to Toledo
    • Saffordville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Ellinor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ellinor. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellinor
      • Ellinor is located in Chase County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Ellinor
      • From Neosho Rapids to Ellinor
    • Gladstone
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gladstone have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
      • Gladstone is located in Chase County
    • Cottonwood Falls
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cottonwood Falls have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood Falls
      • Cottonwood Falls is located in Chase County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 845 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cottonwood Falls <2>
    • Strong City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Strong City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strong City
      • Strong City is located in Chase County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 446 people
      • Strong City has also been known as:
      • Strong
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Strong City <2>
    • Bazaar
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Coffey County
  • Franklin County
  • Greenwood County
  • Morris County
    • Dunlap
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dunlap have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
      • Dunlap is located in Morris County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 29 people
  • Osage County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Neosho Rapids, with the one closest to Neosho Rapids listed first.
    • Barclay
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Olivet
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Osage City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Osage City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage City
      • Osage City is located in Osage County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,765 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osage City <2>
    • Melvern
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Melvern have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvern
      • Melvern is located in Osage County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 368 people
      • Melvern has also been known as:
      • Melvin
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Melvern <2>
    • Lyndon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lyndon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyndon
      • Lyndon is located in Osage County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lyndon <2>
    • Peterton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Peterton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterton
      • Peterton is located in Osage County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Peterton
      • From Neosho Rapids to Peterton
    • Burlingame
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Burlingame have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
      • Burlingame is located in Osage County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
      • Former name for Burlingame:
      • American Settlement
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Burlingame <2>
    • Vassar
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Quenemo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Wabaunsee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Neosho Rapids, with the one closest to Neosho Rapids listed first.
    • Wilmington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Harveyville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Harveyville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harveyville
      • Harveyville is located in Wabaunsee County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people

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

Cemeteries Near Neosho Rapids ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Neosho Rapids.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Neosho Rapids, with the one closest to Neosho Rapids 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 Neosho Rapids had a population of 308 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Neosho Rapids had a population of 262 people.

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

  • Hartford
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hartford have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
    • Hartford is located in Lyon County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 368 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hartford <2>
  • Lebo
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Lang
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lang. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lang
    • Lang is located in Lyon County
    • Lang has also been known as:
    • Hortonville
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Lang
    • From Neosho Rapids to Lang
  • Emporia Junction
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Emporia Junction have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emporia Junction
    • Emporia Junction is located in Lyon County
  • Arvonia
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Arvonia have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arvonia
    • Arvonia is located in Osage County
  • Reading
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reading have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reading
    • Reading is located in Lyon County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Reading <2>
  • Emporia
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Olpe
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Olpe have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olpe
    • Olpe is located in Lyon County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 530 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olpe <2>
  • Ottumwa
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • New Strawn
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Olivet
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Barclay
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Neosho Rapids ...

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 196 newspapers that have been published in the area around Neosho Rapids.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

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

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 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 Neosho Rapids:

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

The official website for Lyon County: www.lyoncounty.org/

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

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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>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 Neosho Rapids, 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- Neosho Rapids) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Neosho Rapids. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 38.3677, Longitude: -95.9911    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025