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 Petrolia (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 Petrolia. 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 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.
Petrolia is located in Allen 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 Allen County: Anderson, Bourbon, Coffey, Linn, Neosho, Wilson & Woodson.
Below are the counties that are near Petrolia. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Petrolia:
- Allen County (The home county of Petrolia)
- The following are listed by their distance from Petrolia, with the one closest to Petrolia listed first.
- Octagon City ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Octagon City is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Octagon City
- Humboldt
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Leanna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Leanna is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leanna
- Bassett
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Bassett is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Iola
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Gas
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gas is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
- La Harpe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Elsmore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Elsmore is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elsmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Elsmore has also been known as:
- Elsinore
- Savonburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Savonburg is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savonburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
- Carlyle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Carlyle is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlyle
- Geneva
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Geneva is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
- Moran
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Moran is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moran
- Population from the 2020 Census: 509 people
- Moran has also been known as:
- Moran City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moran <1>
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petrolia, with the one closest to Petrolia listed first.
- Colony
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Colony is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 424 people
- Lone Elm
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lone Elm is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Elm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Kincaid
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kincaid is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kincaid
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Welda
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Welda is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welda
- Westphalia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Westphalia is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westphalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Bourbon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petrolia, with the one closest to Petrolia listed first.
- Porterville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Porterville is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterville
- Rockford ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Rockford is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockford
- Bronson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Petersburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Petersburg is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Uniontown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Uniontown is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
- Coffey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petrolia, with the one closest to Petrolia listed first.
- Le Roy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Aliceville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Aliceville is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aliceville
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petrolia, with the one closest to Petrolia listed first.
- Walnut
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Hepler
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hepler is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hepler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Brazilton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Brazilton is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazilton
- Greenbush
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Greenbush is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenbush
- Labette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petrolia, with the one closest to Petrolia listed first.
- Morehead
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Morehead is located in Labette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morehead
- Dennis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Parsons
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Neosho County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petrolia, with the one closest to Petrolia listed first.
- Chanute
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Rollin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rollin is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollin
- Earlton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Earlton is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earlton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 52 people
- Odense
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Odense is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odense
- Thayer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Erie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Stark
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Stark is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stark
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
- Galesburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Galesburg is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Saint Paul
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petrolia, with the one closest to Petrolia listed first.
- South Ridge ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- South Ridge is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ridge
- Vilas
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Vilas is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilas
- Rest
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rest is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rest
- Buffalo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Buffalo is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
- Roper
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Roper is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roper
- Benedict
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Guilford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Guilford is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guilford
- Altoona
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Altoona is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altoona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Benedict Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Benedict Junction is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benedict Junction
- Middletown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Middletown is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Hilford
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Hilford is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilford
- Coyville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Coyville is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
- Woodson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petrolia, with the one closest to Petrolia listed first.
- North Ridge ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- North Ridge is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Ridge
- Cookville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cookville is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cookville
- Piqua
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Rose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Rose is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose
- Athens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Athens is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
- Durand
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Durand is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durand
- Hasty
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hasty is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasty
- Yates Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Neosho Falls
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Neosho Falls is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neosho Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Vernon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Batesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Batesville is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batesville
- Toronto
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Petrolia, see our County-by-County Page for Petrolia.
Cemeteries Near Petrolia ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Petrolia.
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 Petrolia - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Petrolia covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Petrolia, with the one closest to Petrolia listed first.
- Swede Center Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Colfax Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Galemore Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galemore Cemetery
- The Galemore Cemetery has also been known as:
- Evangelical Cemetery
- Kern Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2226635 <2>
- St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ellison Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Village Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Dewitt Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Green lawn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Elmwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Elmwood Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Chanute.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #92360 <2>
- Memorial Park Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memorial Park Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Memorial Park Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Chanute.
- The Memorial Park Cemetery has also been known as:
- Chanute Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #945120 <2>
- Continue List (152 more) ...
- Fussman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fussman Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Fussman Cemetery is located outside and to the north of Humboldt.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #92516 <2>
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Joseph Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Joseph Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Humboldt.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #93642 <2>
- Evan Young Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Petrolia in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Petrolia.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Petrolia, with the one closest to Petrolia listed first.
- Chanute
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Humboldt
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Vilas
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Vilas is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilas
- Leanna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Leanna is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leanna
- Cookville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cookville is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cookville
- Rollin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rollin is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollin
- Earlton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Earlton is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earlton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 52 people
- Buffalo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Buffalo is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
- Rest
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rest is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rest
- Piqua
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Odense
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Odense is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odense
- Rose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Rose is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Urbana
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Urbana is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urbana
- Shaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Shaw is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
- Iola
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Petrolia. See our List of 1890's Communities around Petrolia.
Newspapers Published in Petrolia ...
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 50 newspapers that have been published in the area around Petrolia.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Petrolia, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Petrolia.
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 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 Petrolia:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to Allen County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anderson County
- Bourbon County
- Coffey County
- Crawford County
- Labette County
- Neosho County
- Wilson County
- Woodson 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Petrolia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Petrolia, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |