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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 Olathe (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 Olathe. 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 Olathe ...

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.

In past government published Postal Guides, Olathe was referred to as Olathe Courthouse.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Olathe. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Olathe.

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.

For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.

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 southwest 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 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 west 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.

Olathe is located in Johnson County and is the County Seat.

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 Johnson County: Douglas, Franklin, Leavenworth, Miami, Wyandotte, Cass (MO) & Jackson (MO).

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

  • Johnson County     (The home county of Olathe)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Olathe, with the one closest to Olathe listed first.
    • Clare
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lenexa
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Overland Park
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Gardner
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Monticello
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Zarah
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Spring Hill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Spring Hill is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,871 people
      • Spring Hill has also been known as:
      • Spring Hill Station
      • Springfield
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spring Hill <1>
    • Shawnee
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • De Soto
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Holliday
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Lake Quivira
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Lake Quivira is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Quivira
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
    • Clearview City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Douglas County
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Olathe, with the one closest to Olathe listed first.
    • Wellsville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Le Loup
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Le Loup is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Loup
    • Norwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Peoria
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Rantoul
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Imes
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ottawa Junction
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ottawa Junction is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottawa Junction
    • Ottawa
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Centropolis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Jefferson County
  • Leavenworth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Olathe, with the one closest to Olathe listed first.
    • Loring
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Linwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Linwood is located in Leavenworth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 433 people
      • Linwood has also been known as:
      • Big Stranger
      • Johnny Cake
      • Journeycake
    • Fall Leaf
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Basehor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Tonganoxie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Fairmount
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Highland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Highland is located in Leavenworth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
    • Hoge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hoge is located in Leavenworth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoge
    • Lansing
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Jarbalo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Bain City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Bain City is located in Leavenworth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bain City
    • Leavenworth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Miami County
  • Wyandotte County
  • Bates County (MO)
    • Drexel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Drexel is located in Bates County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drexel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 950 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Drexel <1>
  • Cass County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Olathe, with the one closest to Olathe listed first.
    • Loch Lloyd
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Loch Lloyd is located in Cass County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loch Lloyd
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 835 people
      • Loch Lloyd has also been known as:
      • Loch Lloyd village
    • Belton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Cleveland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Riverview Estates
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Riverview Estates is located in Cass County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview Estates
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
      • Riverview Estates has also been known as:
      • Riverview Estates village
    • Harrelson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Harrelson is located in Cass County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrelson
    • Raymore
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Raymore is located in Cass County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,532 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Raymore <1>
    • West Line
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Peculiar
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Lee's Summit
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Lake Annette
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Annette is located in Cass County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Annette
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • Coleman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Freeman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Clay County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Olathe, with the one closest to Olathe listed first.
    • North Kansas City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Avondale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Avondale is located in Clay County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
    • East Kansas City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • East Kansas City is located in Clay County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Kansas City
    • Oaks
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Oaks is located in Clay County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Oakwood Park
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Oakwood Park is located in Clay County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
    • Oakwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Oakwood is located in Clay County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
    • Randolph
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Sugar Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Woodhill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Gladstone
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Linden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Oakview
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Oakview is located in Clay County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 393 people
  • Jackson County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Olathe, with the one closest to Olathe listed first.
    • New Santa Fe
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • New Santa Fe is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Santa Fe
    • Martin City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Martin City is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin City
    • Indian Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Indian Village is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Belvidere
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Belvidere is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvidere
    • Grandview
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Holmes Park
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Kansas City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Raytown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Raytown is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raytown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 28,816 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Raytown <1>
    • Leeds
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Little Blue
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Unity Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Unity Village is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
    • Maywood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Platte County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Olathe, with the one closest to Olathe listed first.
    • Parkville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Riverside
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Waldron
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Waldron is located in Platte County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldron
    • Houston Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Houston Lake is located in Platte County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
    • Northmoor
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Northmoor is located in Platte County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northmoor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 362 people
    • Lake Waukomis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Lake Waukomis is located in Platte County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Waukomis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 874 people
    • Platte Woods
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Platte Woods is located in Platte County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platte Woods
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 406 people
    • Weatherby Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Weatherby Lake is located in Platte County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weatherby Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,086 people
    • Farley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Farley is located in Platte County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 304 people
    • East Leavenworth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Ferrelview
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Ferrelview is located in Platte County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferrelview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 800 people
    • Linkville ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Olathe ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Olathe.

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 Olathe - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Olathe covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Olathe, with the one closest to Olathe 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Olathe had a population of 3,294 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Olathe had a population of 141,665 people.

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

  • Lackmans
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lackmans is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackmans
  • Bonita
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Bonita is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonita
  • Morse
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Morse is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
    • Morse has also been known as:
    • Morris
  • Lenexa
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Gardner
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Ocheltree
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Ocheltree is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheltree
  • Spring Hill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Spring Hill is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,871 people
    • Spring Hill has also been known as:
    • Spring Hill Station
    • Springfield
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spring Hill <1>
  • Zarah
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Stanley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Monticello
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Shawnee
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • De Soto
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Loring
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Holliday
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Lenape
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Lenape is located in Leavenworth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenape

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Olathe ...

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 289 newspapers that have been published in the area around Olathe.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Olathe. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Olathe and those printed in the larger area surrounding Olathe.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4> of Olathe.

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 Olathe:

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 Olathe, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Olathe) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.