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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 Seneca (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 Seneca. 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 southeast 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 south.

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 south 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.

Seneca is located in Nemaha County and is the County Seat.

To see how the shape of Kansas' counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Nemaha County: Brown, Jackson, Marshall, Pottawatomie, Pawnee (NE) & Richardson (NE).

Below are the counties that are near Seneca. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Seneca:

  • Nemaha County     (The home county of Seneca)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Seneca, with the one closest to Seneca listed first.
    • Saint Benedict ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Central City ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Oneida
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Baileyville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Kelly
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Centralia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Bern
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bern have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bern
      • Bern is located in Nemaha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
    • Woodlawn
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Woodlawn. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
      • Woodlawn is located in Nemaha County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Woodlawn
      • From Seneca to Woodlawn
    • Corning
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Corning have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
      • Corning is located in Nemaha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Corning <1>
    • Capioma
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Berwick
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Berwick. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
      • Berwick is located in Nemaha County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Berwick
      • From Seneca to Berwick
    • Goff
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Goff have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goff
      • Goff is located in Nemaha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
  • Brown County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Seneca, with the one closest to Seneca listed first.
    • Fairview
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Sun Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sun Springs. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Springs
      • Sun Springs is located in Brown County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Sun Springs
      • From Seneca to Sun Springs
    • Morrill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Morrill have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrill
      • Morrill is located in Brown County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
    • Hamlin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hamlin have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
      • Hamlin is located in Brown County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
      • Hamlin has also been known as:
      • Hamilton
    • Powhattan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Powhattan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powhattan
      • Powhattan is located in Brown County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
    • Mercier
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mercier. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercier
      • Mercier is located in Brown County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Mercier
      • From Seneca to Mercier
    • Baker ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Baker. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
      • Baker is located in Brown County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Baker
      • From Seneca to Baker
    • Padonia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Hiawatha
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Reserve
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Horton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Willis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Seneca, with the one closest to Seneca listed first.
    • Soldier
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Soldier have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soldier
      • Soldier is located in Jackson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Soldier <1>
    • Netawaka
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Circleville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Avoca ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Avoca. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
      • Avoca is located in Jackson County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Avoca
      • From Seneca to Avoca
    • Whiting
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Whiting have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiting
      • Whiting is located in Jackson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
    • Holton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Holton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holton
      • Holton is located in Jackson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Holton <1>
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Seneca, with the one closest to Seneca listed first.
    • Axtell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Vermillion
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vermillion have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermillion
      • Vermillion is located in Marshall County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 101 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vermillion <1>
    • Summerfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Beattie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Frankfort
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Winifred
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Home
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Carden
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Carden. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carden
      • Carden is located in Marshall County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Carden
      • From Seneca to Carden
    • Marietta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Marietta. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
      • Marietta is located in Marshall County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Marietta
      • From Seneca to Marietta
    • Oketo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Marysville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Pottawatomie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Seneca, with the one closest to Seneca listed first.
    • Duluth
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Havensville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Onaga
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Wheaton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wheaton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheaton
      • Wheaton is located in Pottawatomie County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Blaine
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Gage County (NE)
  • Pawnee County (NE)
  • Richardson County (NE)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Seneca, with the one closest to Seneca listed first.
    • Nim City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nim City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nim City
      • Nim City is located in Richardson County (NE)
    • Humboldt
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Dawson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Salem
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Verdon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Falls City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Falls City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
      • Falls City is located in Richardson County (NE)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,076 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Falls City <1>
    • Straussville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Seneca, see our County-by-County Page for Seneca.

Cemeteries Near Seneca ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Seneca.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Seneca covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Seneca, with the one closest to Seneca listed first.

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Seneca had a population of 2,032 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Seneca had a population of 2,079 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Seneca, with the one closest to Seneca listed first.

  • Saint Benedict ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Oneida
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Baileyville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Kelly
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Bern
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bern have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bern
    • Bern is located in Nemaha County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
  • Axtell
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Woodlawn
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Woodlawn. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
    • Woodlawn is located in Nemaha County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Woodlawn
    • From Seneca to Woodlawn
  • Corning
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Corning have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
    • Corning is located in Nemaha County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Corning <1>
  • Vermillion
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vermillion have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermillion
    • Vermillion is located in Marshall County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 101 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vermillion <1>
  • Goff
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Goff have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goff
    • Goff is located in Nemaha County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
  • Capioma
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Berwick
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Berwick. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
    • Berwick is located in Nemaha County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Berwick
    • From Seneca to Berwick
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Du Bois
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Saint Bridget
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Bridget have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Bridget
      • Saint Bridget is located in Marshall County
    • Fidelity
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fidelity have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fidelity
      • Fidelity is located in Brown County

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Seneca. See our List of 1890's Communities around Seneca.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Seneca ...

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 157 newspapers that have been published in the area around Seneca.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Seneca. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Seneca and those printed in the larger area surrounding Seneca.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6> of Seneca.

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 websites either 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 Seneca:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Seneca. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Kansas: https://portal.kansas.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>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 Seneca, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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- Seneca) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Seneca. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.8343, Longitude: -96.0641    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025