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 Scranton (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 Scranton. 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 doctors and 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.
Scranton is located in Osage 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 Osage County: Coffey, Douglas, Franklin, Lyon, Shawnee & Wabaunsee.
Below are the counties that are near Scranton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Scranton:
- Osage County (The home county of Scranton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Scranton, with the one closest to Scranton listed first.
- Carbondale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Carbondale is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbondale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,347 people
- Mineral Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Mineral Springs is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Burlingame
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Burlingame is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
- Former name for Burlingame:
- American Settlement
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Burlingame <1>
- Peterton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Peterton is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterton
- Overbrook
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Osage City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lyndon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Vassar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Barclay
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Barclay is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barclay
- Quenemo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Quenemo is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quenemo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
- Quenemo has also been known as:
- Quenemo Agency
- Melvern
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Melvern is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 368 people
- Melvern has also been known as:
- Melvin
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Melvern <1>
- Olivet
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Olivet is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
- Coffey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Scranton, with the one closest to Scranton listed first.
- Lebo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Waverly
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Agricola
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Agricola is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agricola
- Halls Summit
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Halls Summit is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Summit
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Scranton, with the one closest to Scranton listed first.
- Globe
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Globe is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Clinton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Stull
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Stull is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stull
- Lone Star
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lone Star is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
- Worden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Worden is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worden
- Big Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Big Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Kanwaka
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Kanwaka is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanwaka
- Kanwaka has also been known as:
- Kanawha
- Kannaka
- Kanwaca
- Grover
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Grover is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grover
- Pleasant Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- Lecompton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lawrence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Baldwin City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Sibleyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sibleyville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibleyville
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Scranton, with the one closest to Scranton listed first.
- Pomona
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Centropolis
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Centropolis is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centropolis
- Richter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Richter is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richter
- Ransomville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ransomville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransomville
- Williamsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Norwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Norwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Homewood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Homewood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homewood
- Ottawa Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ottawa Junction is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottawa Junction
- Ottawa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- B N Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- B N Junction is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for B N Junction
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Scranton, with the one closest to Scranton listed first.
- Grantville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Grantville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantville
- Newman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Newman is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newman
- Medina
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Medina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medina
- Perry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Thompsonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Thompsonville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsonville
- Meriden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Williamstown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Williamstown is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Hilldale South
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hilldale South is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilldale South
- Lake Ridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Ridge is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ridge
- Lyon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Scranton, with the one closest to Scranton listed first.
- Miller
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Miller is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Admire
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Reading
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Allen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Allen is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 169 people
- Lang
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lang is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lang
- Lang has also been known as:
- Hortonville
- Agnes City ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Agnes City is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnes City
- Bushong
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Bushong is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushong
- Population from the 2020 Census: 33 people
- Shawnee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Scranton, with the one closest to Scranton listed first.
- Auburn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Auburn is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,203 people
- Cullen Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cullen Village is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullen Village
- Berryton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Berryton is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryton
- Pauline
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Pauline is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pauline
- Richland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Richland is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
- Dover
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Highland Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Highland Park is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
- Watson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Watson is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Topeka
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- North Topeka
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- North Topeka is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Topeka
- Oakland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Oakland is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Tecumseh
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kiro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Kiro is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiro
- Wabaunsee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Scranton, with the one closest to Scranton listed first.
- Harveyville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Harveyville is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harveyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Wilmington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Wilmington is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Eskridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Eskridge is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eskridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 502 people
- Maple Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Vera
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vera is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vera
- Paxico
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Scranton, see our County-by-County Page for Scranton.
Cemeteries Near Scranton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Scranton.
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 Scranton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Scranton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Scranton, with the one closest to Scranton listed first.
- Scranton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Carbondale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Burlingame City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Vawter Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Shawnee Center Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Shawnee Center Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Ridgeway Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Yocum Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Prairie Center Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Prairie Center Cemetery is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<3> to the north of Burlingame.
- The Prairie Center Cemetery has also been known as:
- Prairie City Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1740047 <2>
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (154 more) ...
- Somervell Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Scranton had a population of 1,572 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Scranton had a population of 671 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Scranton, with the one closest to Scranton listed first.
- Carbondale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Carbondale is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbondale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,347 people
- Burlingame
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Burlingame is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
- Former name for Burlingame:
- American Settlement
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Burlingame <1>
- Wakarusa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Peterton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Peterton is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterton
- Lyndon Station
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Lyndon Station is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyndon Station
- Auburn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Auburn is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,203 people
- Overbrook
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Swissvale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Swissvale is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swissvale
- Osage City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wilmington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Wilmington is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Vassar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Harveyville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Harveyville is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harveyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Berryton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Berryton is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryton
- Michigan Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Michigan Valley is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michigan Valley
- Richland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Richland is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Scranton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Scranton.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Scranton ...
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 126 newspapers that have been published in the area around Scranton.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Scranton. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Scranton and those printed in the larger area surrounding Scranton.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Scranton.
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 Scranton:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to Osage County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Coffey County
- Douglas County
- Franklin County
- Jefferson County
- Lyon County
- Shawnee County
- Wabaunsee 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Scranton) 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 Scranton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |