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 Westphalia (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 Westphalia. 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 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.
Westphalia is located in Anderson 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 Anderson County: Allen, Bourbon, Coffey, Franklin, Linn, Miami & Woodson.
Below are the counties that are near Westphalia. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Westphalia:
- Anderson County (The home county of Westphalia)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
- Mont Ida
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mont Ida is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Ida
- Central City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Central City is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Former name for Central City:
- Jerome
- Central City has also been known as:
- Central
- Harris
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Harris is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Welda
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Welda is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welda
- Colony
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Colony is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 424 people
- Glenlock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Glenlock is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenlock
- Garnett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lone Elm
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lone Elm is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Elm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Bush City
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bush City is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush City
- Kincaid
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Kincaid is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kincaid
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Scipio
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Scipio is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scipio
- Selma
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Selma is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Allen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
- Geneva
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Geneva is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
- Carlyle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Carlyle is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlyle
- Iola
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bassett
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bassett is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Gas
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gas is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
- Mildred
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mildred is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mildred
- Estimated population in 2019: 23 people
- Bayard
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bayard is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayard
- La Harpe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Humboldt
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Moran
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Moran is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moran
- Population from the 2020 Census: 509 people
- Moran has also been known as:
- Moran City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moran <1>
- Octagon City ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Octagon City is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Octagon City
- Petrolia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Petrolia is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrolia
- Bourbon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
- Bronson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Xenia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Xenia is located in Bourbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
- Coffey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
- Aliceville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Aliceville is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aliceville
- Le Roy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Burlington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- New Strawn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Halls Summit
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Halls Summit is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Summit
- Agricola
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Agricola is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agricola
- Waverly
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ottumwa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Ottumwa is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottumwa
- Gridley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Gridley is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gridley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 323 people
- Jacobs Creek Landing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Jacobs Creek Landing is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacobs Creek Landing
- Lebo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
- Richmond
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Williamsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ransomville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Ransomville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransomville
- Homewood
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Homewood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homewood
- Princeton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- B N Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- B N Junction is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for B N Junction
- Lane
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lane is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Lane has also been known as:
- Lane City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lane <1>
- Pomona
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Richter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Richter is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richter
- Greenwood County
- Lamont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
- Blue Mound
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Centerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Centerville is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Goodrich
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Goodrich is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodrich
- Parker
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Parker is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Lyon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
- Hartford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Neosho Rapids
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Neosho Rapids is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neosho Rapids
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Osage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
- Melvern
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Olivet is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
- Quenemo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- 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
- Woodson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
- Neosho Falls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Neosho Falls is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neosho Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Vernon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vernon is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Piqua
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Athens
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Athens is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
- Hasty
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hasty is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasty
- Durand
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Durand is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durand
- Cookville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Cookville is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cookville
- Yates Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rose
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rose is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Westphalia, see our County-by-County Page for Westphalia.
Cemeteries Near Westphalia ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westphalia.
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 Westphalia - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Westphalia covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
- Westphalia City Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- St. Teresa Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Altamont Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Quisling Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mont Ida Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bethel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Star Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Cemetery
- The Star Cemetery has also been known as:
- Cayot Cemetery
- French Ridge Cemetery
- Stoeltzing Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Logue Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Wardell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (145 more) ...
- Patton Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Central City Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
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 Westphalia had a population of 375 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Westphalia had a population of 164 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
- Aliceville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Aliceville is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aliceville
- Mont Ida
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mont Ida is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Ida
- Central City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Central City is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Former name for Central City:
- Jerome
- Central City has also been known as:
- Central
- Harris
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Harris is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Le Roy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Colony
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Colony is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 424 people
- Welda
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Welda is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welda
- Geneva
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Geneva is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
- Glenlock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Glenlock is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenlock
- Neosho Falls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Neosho Falls is located in Woodson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neosho Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Sharpe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sharpe is located in Coffey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpe
- Burlington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- New Strawn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Lone Elm
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lone Elm is located in Anderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Elm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Garnett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Westphalia. See our List of 1890's Communities around Westphalia.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Westphalia ...
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 158 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westphalia.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Westphalia. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Westphalia and those printed in the larger area surrounding Westphalia.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Westphalia.
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 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 Westphalia:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to Anderson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allen County
- Bourbon County
- Coffey County
- Franklin County
- Greenwood County
- Linn County
- Lyon County
- Osage County
- Woodson 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 Westphalia, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Westphalia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |