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 Sedgwick (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 Sedgwick. 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 Sedgwick ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Sedgwick City.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Sedgwick. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Sedgwick.
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.
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 hospitals and 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.
Sedgwick is primarily located in Harvey County. A portion of Sedgwick extends into Sedgwick 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 Harvey County: Butler, Marion, McPherson, Reno & Sedgwick.
Below are the counties that are near Sedgwick. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sedgwick:
- Harvey County (The home county of Sedgwick)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sedgwick, with the one closest to Sedgwick listed first.
- Putnam
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Putnam is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Van Arsdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Van Arsdale is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Arsdale
- McGraw
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- McGraw is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGraw
- Halstead
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Newton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- McLains
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- McLains is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLains
- North Newton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Paxton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Paxton is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paxton
- Annelly
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Annelly is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annelly
- Zimmerdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Zimmerdale is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimmerdale
- Patterson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Patterson is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Burrton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Burrton is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 854 people
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sedgwick, with the one closest to Sedgwick listed first.
- Whitewater
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Brainerd
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Brainerd is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brainerd
- Elbing
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Elbing is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbing
- Population from the 2020 Census: 230 people
- Benton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Acres
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Acres is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Acres
- Prairie Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie Village is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Village
- Potwin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Potwin is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 438 people
- Andover
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Andover is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,672 people
- Andover has also been known as:
- Cloud City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Andover <1>
- Towanda
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lorena
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lorena is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorena
- Hopkins
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Hopkins is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkins
- Midian
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Midian is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midian
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sedgwick, with the one closest to Sedgwick listed first.
- Goessel
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Goessel is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goessel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 489 people
- Peabody
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Peabody is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peabody
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,079 people
- Former name for Peabody:
- Coneburgh
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Peabody <1>
- McPherson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sedgwick, with the one closest to Sedgwick listed first.
- Moundridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Elyria
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Elyria is located in McPherson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elyria
- Inman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Groveland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Groveland is located in McPherson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveland
- Reno County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sedgwick, with the one closest to Sedgwick listed first.
- Haven
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Saint Joe
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Joe is located in Reno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joe
- Punkin Center ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Punkin Center is located in Reno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Punkin Center
- Buhler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Buhler is located in Reno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buhler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,269 people
- Buhler has also been known as:
- Tulip Town
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Buhler <1>
- Yoder
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Obeeville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Obeeville is located in Reno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obeeville
- Medora
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Medora is located in Reno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medora
- Elmer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Elmer is located in Reno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmer
- Cruppers Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Cruppers Corner is located in Reno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruppers Corner
- Darlow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Darlow is located in Reno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlow
- Hutchinson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Castleton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Castleton is located in Reno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castleton
- Sedgwick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sedgwick, with the one closest to Sedgwick listed first.
- Coleman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Coleman is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- Bentley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Park City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Maize
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Wichita Heights
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Wichita Heights is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wichita Heights
- Kechi
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Colwich
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bel Aire
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Hope
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Andale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cow Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Cow Town is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cow Town
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sedgwick, see our County-by-County Page for Sedgwick.
Cemeteries Near Sedgwick ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sedgwick.
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 Sedgwick - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sedgwick covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sedgwick, with the one closest to Sedgwick listed first.
- Hillside Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kemper Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Park Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Royer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Marble Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Restlawn Gardens of Memory Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Halstead Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Old Halstead Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Eldridge Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Maize Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Continue List (136 more) ...
- Kechi Twp. Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview Pioneer Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Sedgwick had a population of 652 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Sedgwick had a population of 1,657 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sedgwick, with the one closest to Sedgwick listed first.
- Putnam
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Putnam is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Bentley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sunnydale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sunnydale is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnydale
- Halstead
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Newton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Maize
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Wichita Heights
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Wichita Heights is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wichita Heights
- McLains
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- McLains is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLains
- Colwich
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kechi
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Furley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Furley is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furley
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Annelly
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Annelly is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annelly
- Patterson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Patterson is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Mount Hope
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sedgwick. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sedgwick.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Sedgwick ...
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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sedgwick.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Sedgwick. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Sedgwick and those printed in the larger area surrounding Sedgwick.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of Sedgwick.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Sedgwick:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to Harvey County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Marion County
- McPherson County
- Reno County
- Sedgwick 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 Sedgwick, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Sedgwick) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |