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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 Stilwell (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 Stilwell. 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 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.

Stilwell is located in Johnson 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 Johnson County: Douglas, Franklin, Leavenworth, Miami, Wyandotte, Cass (MO) & Jackson (MO).

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

  • Johnson County     (The home county of Stilwell)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stilwell, with the one closest to Stilwell listed first.
    • Spring Hill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Spring Hill is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,871 people
      • Spring Hill has also been known as:
      • Spring Hill Station
      • Springfield
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spring Hill <1>
    • Overland Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Olathe
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Clare
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Lenexa
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Leawood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Gardner
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Prairie Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Countryside
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Countryside is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside
    • Fairway
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Merriam
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Mission Hills
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Mission Hills is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,533 people
    • Mission
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Mission is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,873 people
      • Former name for Mission:
      • Mission Hill Acres
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mission <1>
  • Douglas County
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stilwell, with the one closest to Stilwell listed first.
    • Wellsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Le Loup
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Le Loup is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Loup
    • Rantoul
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Peoria
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Imes
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Leavenworth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stilwell, with the one closest to Stilwell listed first.
    • Loring
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Linwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Linwood is located in Leavenworth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 433 people
      • Linwood has also been known as:
      • Big Stranger
      • Johnny Cake
      • Journeycake
    • Fall Leaf
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Basehor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Linn County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stilwell, with the one closest to Stilwell listed first.
    • Linn Valley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • La Cygne
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Miami County
  • Wyandotte County
  • Bates County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stilwell, with the one closest to Stilwell listed first.
    • Drexel
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Drexel is located in Bates County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drexel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 950 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Drexel <1>
    • Burdett
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Merwin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Amsterdam
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Adrian
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Cass County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stilwell, with the one closest to Stilwell listed first.
    • Loch Lloyd
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Loch Lloyd is located in Cass County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loch Lloyd
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 835 people
      • Loch Lloyd has also been known as:
      • Loch Lloyd village
    • Cleveland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Riverview Estates
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Riverview Estates is located in Cass County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview Estates
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
      • Riverview Estates has also been known as:
      • Riverview Estates village
    • Belton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Harrelson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Harrelson is located in Cass County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrelson
    • West Line
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Peculiar
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Raymore
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Raymore is located in Cass County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,532 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Raymore <1>
    • Lake Annette
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Annette is located in Cass County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Annette
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • Freeman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Coleman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Lake Winnebago
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Lake Winnebago is located in Cass County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Winnebago
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,370 people
    • Harrisonville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Clay County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stilwell, with the one closest to Stilwell listed first.
    • North Kansas City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Sugar Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Avondale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Avondale is located in Clay County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
    • East Kansas City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • East Kansas City is located in Clay County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Kansas City
    • Randolph
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Birmingham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Minaville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Woodhill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Oaks
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Oaks is located in Clay County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Oakview
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Oakview is located in Clay County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 393 people
    • Oakwood Park
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Oakwood Park is located in Clay County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
    • Oakwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Oakwood is located in Clay County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
  • Jackson County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stilwell, with the one closest to Stilwell listed first.
    • Belvidere
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Belvidere is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvidere
    • Martin City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Martin City is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin City
    • New Santa Fe
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • New Santa Fe is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Santa Fe
    • Grandview
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Indian Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Indian Village is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Holmes Park
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Raytown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Raytown is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raytown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 28,816 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Raytown <1>
    • Unity Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Unity Village is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
    • Little Blue
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Leeds
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Kansas City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Cockrell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Platte County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Stilwell, with the one closest to Stilwell listed first.
    • Riverside
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Northmoor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Northmoor is located in Platte County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northmoor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 362 people
    • Houston Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Houston Lake is located in Platte County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
    • Parkville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Stilwell ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Stilwell.

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 Stilwell - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Stilwell, with the one closest to Stilwell 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Stilwell had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Wea
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Jaudon
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jaudon is located in Cass County (MO)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaudon
  • Bucyrus
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Morse
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Morse is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
    • Morse has also been known as:
    • Morris
  • Kenneth
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Kenneth is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
  • Stanley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Belton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Chiles
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Bonita
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Bonita is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonita
  • Ocheltree
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Ocheltree is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheltree
  • Spring Hill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Spring Hill is located in Johnson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,871 people
    • Spring Hill has also been known as:
    • Spring Hill Station
    • Springfield
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spring Hill <1>
  • Louisburg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Louisburg is located in Miami County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisburg
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,590 people
    • Former name for Louisburg:
    • New Saint Lewis
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Louisburg <1>
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Harrelson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Harrelson is located in Cass County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrelson
    • Belvidere
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Belvidere is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvidere
    • Martin City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Martin City is located in Jackson County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin City

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

Newspapers Published in Stilwell ...

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 131 newspapers that have been published in the area around Stilwell.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Stilwell, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Stilwell.

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 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 Stilwell:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Stilwell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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>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 Stilwell, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.