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 Overland 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 Overland 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
Overland Park is located in Johnson 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 Johnson County: Douglas, Franklin, Leavenworth, Miami, Wyandotte, Cass (MO) & Jackson (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Overland Park. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Overland Park:
- Johnson County (The home county of Overland Park)
- The following are listed by their distance from Overland Park, with the one closest to Overland Park listed first.
- Lenexa
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Leawood
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Prairie Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Countryside
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Countryside is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside
- Merriam
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Mission
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Mission is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,873 people
- Former name for Mission:
- Mission Hill Acres
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mission <1>
- Mission Hills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mission Hills is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,533 people
- Olathe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Fairway
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Roeland Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Mission Woods
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mission Woods is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission Woods
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Lake Quivira
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Quivira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Quivira
- Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Overland Park, with the one closest to Overland Park listed first.
- Hesper
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hesper is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesper
- Weaver
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Weaver is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
- Clearfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Clearfield is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clearfield
- Eudora
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Black Jack ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Black Jack is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Jack
- Noria
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Noria is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noria
- Sibleyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Sibleyville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibleyville
- Vinland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Vinland is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinland
- Baldwin City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bismarck Grove ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bismarck Grove is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bismarck Grove
- Midland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Midland is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Overland Park, with the one closest to Overland Park listed first.
- Wellsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Le Loup
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Le Loup is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Loup
- Leavenworth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Overland Park, with the one closest to Overland Park listed first.
- Loring
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Loring is located in Leavenworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loring
- Linwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- 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
- Basehor
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Highland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Highland is located in Leavenworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Fairmount
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Fairmount is located in Leavenworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Fairmount has also been known as:
- Fairmont Village
- Fall Leaf
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Fall Leaf is located in Leavenworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Leaf
- Hoge
(24 miles [38.6 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 northwest)
- Tonganoxie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bain City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bain City is located in Leavenworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bain City
- Jarbalo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Jarbalo is located in Leavenworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarbalo
- Leavenworth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Miami County
- The following are listed by their distance from Overland Park, with the one closest to Overland Park listed first.
- Bucyrus
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bucyrus is located in Miami County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucyrus
- Wea
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wea is located in Miami County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wea
- Chiles
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Chiles is located in Miami County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chiles
- Hillsdale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hillsdale is located in Miami County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Louisburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Louisburg is located in Miami County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,590 people
- Former name for Louisburg:
- New Saint Lewis
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Louisburg <1>
- Somerset
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Paola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Block
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Block is located in Miami County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Block
- Wyandotte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Overland Park, with the one closest to Overland Park listed first.
- Argentine
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Argentine is located in Wyandotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argentine
- Morris
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Morris is located in Wyandotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris
- Grinter Heights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Grinter Heights is located in Wyandotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grinter Heights
- Turner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Turner is located in Wyandotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner
- Edwardsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Kansas City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Bonner Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Quindaro ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Quindaro is located in Wyandotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quindaro
- Piper
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Piper is located in Wyandotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piper
- Wallula
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wallula is located in Wyandotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallula
- Bates County (MO)
- Drexel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cass County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Overland Park, with the one closest to Overland Park listed first.
- Loch Lloyd
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- 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
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Harrelson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Harrelson is located in Cass County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrelson
- Raymore
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Riverview Estates
(14 miles [22.5 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
- Lee's Summit
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Cleveland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Cleveland is located in Cass County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 668 people
- Lake Winnebago
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lake Winnebago is located in Cass County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Winnebago
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,370 people
- Peculiar
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Coleman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Coleman is located in Cass County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- West Line
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- West Line is located in Cass County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Line
- Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
- Lake Annette
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Clay County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Overland Park, with the one closest to Overland Park listed first.
- North Kansas City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Avondale
(18 miles [29 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
- Sugar Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- East Kansas City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- East Kansas City is located in Clay County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Kansas City
- Randolph
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Randolph is located in Clay County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Woodhill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Woodhill is located in Clay County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodhill
- Oaks
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Oaks is located in Clay County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaks
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Oakwood Park
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Oakwood Park is located in Clay County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Oakwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Oakwood is located in Clay County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Minaville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Minaville is located in Clay County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minaville
- Gladstone
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Birmingham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Birmingham is located in Clay County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Jackson County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Overland Park, with the one closest to Overland Park listed first.
- New Santa Fe
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- New Santa Fe is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Santa Fe
- Martin City
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Martin City is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin City
- Indian Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Village is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Holmes Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Holmes Park is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes Park
- Holmes Park has also been known as:
- Holmes
- Grandview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Belvidere
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Belvidere is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvidere
- Kansas City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Raytown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Leeds
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Leeds is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
- Little Blue
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Little Blue is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Blue
- Unity Village
(15 miles [24.1 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
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Maywood is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Platte County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Overland Park, with the one closest to Overland Park listed first.
- Riverside
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Houston Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Houston Lake is located in Platte County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
- Northmoor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Northmoor is located in Platte County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northmoor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 362 people
- Parkville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Lake Waukomis
(21 miles [33.8 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
(21 miles [33.8 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
- Waldron
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Waldron is located in Platte County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldron
- Weatherby Lake
(22 miles [35.4 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
(26 miles [41.8 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
- Ferrelview
(27 miles [43.5 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
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Linkville is located in Platte County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linkville
- East Leavenworth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- East Leavenworth is located in Platte County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Leavenworth
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Overland Park, see our County-by-County Page for Overland Park.
Cemeteries Near Overland Park ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Overland 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 Overland Park - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Overland Park covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Overland Park, with the one closest to Overland Park listed first.
- Johnson County Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Tomahawk Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Resurrection Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Linwood Pioneer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lenexa Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. John Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Strang Mausoleum
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Antioch Pioneer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (291 more) ...
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Corinth Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
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 Overland Park in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Overland Park.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Overland Park, with the one closest to Overland Park listed first.
- Lenexa
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Morse
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Morse has also been known as:
- Morris
- Stanley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Santa Fe
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- New Santa Fe is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Santa Fe
- Dallas
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Dallas is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Lackmans
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Lackmans is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackmans
- Kenneth
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Kenneth is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
- Martin City
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Martin City is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin City
- Red Bridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Red Bridge is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bridge
- Olathe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Merriam
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Hickman Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hickman Mills is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman Mills
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Holmes Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Holmes Park is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes Park
- Holmes Park has also been known as:
- Holmes
- Dodson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dodson is located in Jackson County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodson
- Bonita
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bonita is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonita
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Overland Park. See our List of 1890's Communities around Overland Park.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Overland 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 63 newspapers that have been published in the area around Overland Park.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Overland Park. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Overland Park and those printed in the larger area surrounding Overland Park.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4> of Overland 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 professional and volunteer 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 Overland Park:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to Johnson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Douglas County
- Franklin County
- Leavenworth County
- Miami County
- Wyandotte County
- Bates County
- Cass County
- Clay County
- Jackson County
- Platte 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 Overland 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 from Point A (ie- Overland Park) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |