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 Towanda (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 Towanda. 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.
Towanda is located in Butler 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 Butler County: Chase, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood, Harvey, Marion, Sedgwick & Sumner.
Below are the counties that are near Towanda. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Towanda:
- Butler County (The home county of Towanda)
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Midian
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Midian is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midian
- Benton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- El Dorado
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hopkins
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hopkins is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkins
- Augusta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Lorena
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lorena is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorena
- Sunset Acres
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sunset Acres is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Acres
- Potwin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Potwin is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 438 people
- Haverhill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Haverhill is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haverhill
- Andover
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- 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>
- Prairie Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie Village is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Village
- Brainerd
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brainerd is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brainerd
- Pickrell Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pickrell Corner is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickrell Corner
- Chase County
- Wonsevu
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wonsevu is located in Chase County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wonsevu
- Cowley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Rock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Atlanta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Udall
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Wilmot
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Wilmot is located in Cowley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Akron
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Akron is located in Cowley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
- Floral
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Floral is located in Cowley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floral
- Greenwood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Ivanpah
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ivanpah is located in Greenwood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanpah
- Reece
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Reece is located in Greenwood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reece
- Harvey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Annelly
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Annelly is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annelly
- McLains
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- McLains is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLains
- Putnam
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Putnam is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Sedgwick
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- McGraw
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- McGraw is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGraw
- Newton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Walton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- North Newton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Van Arsdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Van Arsdale is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Arsdale
- Zimmerdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Zimmerdale is located in Harvey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimmerdale
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Burns
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Burns is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Peabody
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Sedgwick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Greenwich
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Greenwich is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwich
- Bel Aire
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Kechi
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Eastborough
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eastborough is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastborough
- Population from the 2020 Census: 730 people
- Park City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Wichita Heights
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Wichita Heights is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wichita Heights
- Wichita
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cow Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Cow Town is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cow Town
- Valley Center
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Derby
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Oatville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Oatville is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oatville
- Haysville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Maize
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Towanda, see our County-by-County Page for Towanda.
Cemeteries Near Towanda ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Towanda.
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 Towanda - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Towanda covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Towanda Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Sutton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Indianola Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut Valley Memorial Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Benton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Sunset Lawns Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Elmwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Calvary Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Baker Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Union Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Old Benton Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- McGill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (116 more) ...
- Deem Family Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Andover Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Shafer Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
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 Towanda had a population of 156 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Towanda had a population of 1,446 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Benton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Augusta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- El Dorado
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Lorena
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lorena is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorena
- Haverhill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Haverhill is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haverhill
- Potwin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Potwin is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 438 people
- Andover
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- 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>
- Brainerd
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brainerd is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brainerd
- Greenwich
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Greenwich is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwich
- Leon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Leon is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 730 people
- Leon has also been known as:
- West Leon
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leon <1>
- Furley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Furley is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furley
- Minneha
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Minneha is located in Sedgwick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minneha
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Gordon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Gordon is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Chelsea ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chelsea is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chelsea
- De Graff
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- De Graff is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Graff
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Towanda. See our List of 1890's Communities around Towanda.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Towanda ...
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 91 newspapers that have been published in the area around Towanda.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Towanda. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Towanda and those printed in the larger area surrounding Towanda.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Towanda.
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 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 Towanda:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to Butler County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chase County
- Cowley County
- Greenwood County
- Harvey County
- Marion 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 Towanda, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Towanda) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |