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 Willard (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 Willard. 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.
Willard is primarily located in Shawnee County. A portion of Willard extends into Wabaunsee 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 Shawnee County: Douglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, Pottawatomie & Wabaunsee.
Below are the counties that are near Willard. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Willard:
- Shawnee County (The home county of Willard)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Rossville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Silver Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Kiro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Kiro is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiro
- Dover
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Topeka
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Auburn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Auburn is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,203 people
- Highland Park
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Highland Park is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
- North Topeka
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- North Topeka is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Topeka
- Oakland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Oakland is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Cullen Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cullen Village is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullen Village
- Pauline
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pauline is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pauline
- Berryton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Berryton is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryton
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Big Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Big Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Grover
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Grover is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grover
- Stull
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Stull is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stull
- Lecompton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Delia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Delia is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 176 people
- Hoyt
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mayetta
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Avoca is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Birmingham
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Birmingham is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Denison
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Circleville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Holton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Soldier
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Grantville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Grantville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantville
- Meriden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Rock Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Hilldale South
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hilldale South is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilldale South
- Hilldale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hilldale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilldale
- Lake Ridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lake Ridge is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ridge
- Newman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Newman is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newman
- West Shore
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- West Shore is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Shore
- Indian Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Indian Ridge is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Ridge
- Medina
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Medina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medina
- Ozawkie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Thompsonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Thompsonville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsonville
- Osage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Mineral Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mineral Springs is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Carbondale
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Carbondale is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbondale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,347 people
- Burlingame
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Burlingame is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
- Former name for Burlingame:
- American Settlement
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Burlingame <1>
- Scranton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Peterton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Peterton is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterton
- Overbrook
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pottawatomie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Saint Marys
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Belvue
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Belvue is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvue
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Emmett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Clere
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Saint Clere is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clere
- Aikins
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Aikins is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aikins
- Wamego
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Louisville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Louisville is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Louisville has also been known as:
- Louisville Springs
- Rock City
- Rock Creek Falls
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Louisville <1>
- Saint George
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Havensville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Onaga
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Riley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Pillsbury Crossing ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pillsbury Crossing is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pillsbury Crossing
- Zeandale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Zeandale is located in Riley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeandale
- Wabaunsee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Maple Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Vera
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Vera is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vera
- Paxico
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- McFarland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- McFarland is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McFarland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 250 people
- Eskridge
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Eskridge is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eskridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 502 people
- Alma
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Harveyville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Harveyville is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harveyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Wilmington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Wilmington is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Willard, see our County-by-County Page for Willard.
Cemeteries Near Willard ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Willard.
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 Willard - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Willard covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Uniontown Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Rossville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Valencia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Silver Lake Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Freeman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- West Lawn Memorial Gardens
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Walnut Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Czech - Moravian Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Keene Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Dover Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Security Benefit Association Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Continue List (134 more) ...
- Mt. Calvery Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mission Center Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie Home Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
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 in 1895, Willard had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Willard had a population of 88 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Willard, with the one closest to Willard listed first.
- Rossville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Valencia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Valencia is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valencia
- Silver Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Maple Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Vera
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Vera is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vera
- Dover
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Saint Marys
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Keene
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Keene is located in Wabaunsee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keene
- Menoken
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Menoken is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menoken
- Paxico
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Elmont
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Elmont is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmont
- Auburn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Auburn is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,203 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Topeka
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- North Topeka
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- North Topeka is located in Shawnee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Topeka
- Belvue
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Belvue is located in Pottawatomie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvue
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Willard. See our List of 1890's Communities around Willard.
Newspapers Published in Willard ...
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 475 newspapers that have been published in the area around Willard.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Willard, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Willard.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Willard:
- Websites specific to Kansas
- Pages specific to Shawnee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Douglas County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Osage County
- Pottawatomie County
- Riley County
- Wabaunsee 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 Willard, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Willard) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |