Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Rockford. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Rockford to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Rockford, please Contact Us.
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 Rockford (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 Rockford. 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Rockford is historic, it would have been located within present day Bourbon 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 Bourbon County: Allen, Anderson, Crawford, Linn, Neosho & Vernon (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Rockford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rockford:
- Bourbon County (The home county of Rockford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockford, with the one closest to Rockford listed first.
- Porterville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Porterville is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterville
- Petersburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Petersburg is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Uniontown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Uniontown is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
- Bronson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Hiattville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hiattville is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hiattville
- Redfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Redfield is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 142 people
- Hollister
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Hollister is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollister
- Ronald
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ronald is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ronald
- Marmaton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Marmaton is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marmaton
- Pawnee Station
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Pawnee Station is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pawnee Station
- Berlin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Berlin is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Xenia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Xenia is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
- Devon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Devon is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devon
- Allen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockford, with the one closest to Rockford listed first.
- Savonburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Savonburg is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savonburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
- Elsmore
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- 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
- Moran
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- 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 <2>
- Leanna
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Leanna is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leanna
- Bayard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Bayard is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayard
- La Harpe
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mildred
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Mildred is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mildred
- Estimated population in 2019: 23 people
- Gas
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Gas is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
- Octagon City ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Octagon City is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Octagon City
- Bassett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bassett is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Humboldt
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Iola
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Petrolia
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Petrolia is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrolia
- Anderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockford, with the one closest to Rockford listed first.
- Kincaid
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Kincaid is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kincaid
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Lone Elm
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lone Elm is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Elm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Selma
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Selma is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Colony
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Colony is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 424 people
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockford, with the one closest to Rockford listed first.
- Hepler
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hepler is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hepler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Walnut
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Walnut is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Brazilton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Brazilton is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazilton
- Farlington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Greenbush
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Greenbush is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenbush
- Cato
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Cato is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
- Dry Wood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Dry Wood is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Wood
- Girard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Englevale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Englevale is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englevale
- Edison
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Edison is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edison
- Ringo
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Ringo is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringo
- Arcadia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Arcadia is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 309 people
- Arma
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Labette County
- Strauss
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Strauss is located in Labette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strauss
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockford, with the one closest to Rockford listed first.
- Blue Mound
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Critzer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Critzer is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Critzer
- Prescott
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Prescott is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Mound City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Neosho County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockford, with the one closest to Rockford listed first.
- Stark
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stark is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stark
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
- Odense
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Odense is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odense
- Erie
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Paul
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Rollin
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Rollin is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollin
- Chanute
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Earlton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Earlton is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earlton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 52 people
- Galesburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Galesburg is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Thayer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wilson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockford, with the one closest to Rockford listed first.
- South Ridge ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- South Ridge is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ridge
- Vilas
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Vilas is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilas
- Woodson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockford, with the one closest to Rockford listed first.
- Piqua
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cookville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Cookville is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cookville
- North Ridge ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- North Ridge is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Ridge
- Barton County (MO)
- Burgess
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Burgess is located in Barton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
- Estimated population in 2017: 54 people
- Vernon County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockford, with the one closest to Rockford listed first.
- Richards
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Richards is located in Vernon County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richards
- Population from the 2020 Census: 94 people
- Deerfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Deerfield is located in Vernon County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Stotesbury
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Stotesbury is located in Vernon County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stotesbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rockford, see our County-by-County Page for Rockford.
Cemeteries Near Rockford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rockford.
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 Rockford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rockford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rockford, with the one closest to Rockford listed first.
- Harmony Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rosedale Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hatch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Elsmore Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Marion Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Uniontown Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- St. Mary Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Old Elsmore Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Ard Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (189 more) ...
- Putnam Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hiattville Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Mt. Orum Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.
Rockford itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a population of 27 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rockford, with the one closest to Rockford listed first.
- Porterville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Porterville is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterville
- Savonburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Savonburg is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savonburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
- Stark
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stark is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stark
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
- Elsmore
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- 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
- Hepler
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hepler is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hepler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Uniontown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Uniontown is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
- Kimball
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kimball is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
- Bronson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Walnut
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Walnut is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Hiattville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hiattville is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hiattville
- Redfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Redfield is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 142 people
- Odense
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Odense is located in Neosho County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odense
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Moran
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- 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 <2>
- Ronald
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ronald is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ronald
- Marmaton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Marmaton is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marmaton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rockford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rockford.
Newspapers Published in Rockford ...
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 55 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rockford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rockford, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rockford.
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 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 Rockford:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to Bourbon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allen County
- Anderson County
- Crawford County
- Labette County
- Linn County
- Neosho County
- Wilson County
- Woodson County
- Barton County
- Vernon County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Kansas
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Rockford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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- Rockford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |