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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 Belton (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 Belton. 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.

Belton is located in Cass County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Cass County: Johnson (KS), Miami (KS), Bates, Henry, Jackson & Johnson.

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

  • Cass County     (The home county of Belton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Belton, with the one closest to Belton listed first.
    • Raymore
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Harrelson
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Harrelson is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrelson
    • Loch Lloyd
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Loch Lloyd is located in Cass County
      • 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
    • Riverview Estates
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Riverview Estates is located in Cass County
      • 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
    • Peculiar
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Coleman
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake Winnebago
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Lake Winnebago is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Winnebago
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,370 people
    • Cleveland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Lee's Summit
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake Annette
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Lake Annette is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Annette
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • West Line
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Freeman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Bates County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Belton, with the one closest to Belton listed first.
    • Drexel
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Burdett
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Merwin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Adrian
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Belton, with the one closest to Belton listed first.
    • Sugar Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • North Kansas City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Avondale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Avondale is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
    • East Kansas City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • East Kansas City is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Kansas City
    • Randolph
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Birmingham
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Minaville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Woodhill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Claycomo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Claycomo is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claycomo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,526 people
    • Oaks
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Oaks is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Oakwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Oakwood is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
    • Gladstone
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Belton, with the one closest to Belton listed first.
    • Belvidere
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Belvidere is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvidere
    • Grandview
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Martin City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Martin City is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin City
    • New Santa Fe
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • New Santa Fe is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Santa Fe
    • Holmes Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Greenwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Indian Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Indian Village is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Unity Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Unity Village is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
    • Raytown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Little Blue
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Cockrell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Lake Lotawana
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Belton, with the one closest to Belton listed first.
    • Kingsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • La Tour
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • La Tour is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Tour
    • Latour
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Holden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Lafayette County
  • Platte County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Belton, with the one closest to Belton listed first.
    • Northmoor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Northmoor is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northmoor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 362 people
    • Riverside
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Houston Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Houston Lake is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
    • Parkville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Lake Waukomis
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Lake Waukomis is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Waukomis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 874 people
    • Platte Woods
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Platte Woods is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platte Woods
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 406 people
    • Weatherby Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Weatherby Lake is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weatherby Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,086 people
  • Douglas County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Belton, with the one closest to Belton listed first.
    • Hesper
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Clearfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Weaver
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Weaver is located in Douglas County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
  • Franklin County (KS)
    • Wellsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Johnson County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Belton, with the one closest to Belton listed first.
    • Stilwell
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Overland Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Leawood
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Prairie Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Mission Hills
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Mission Hills is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,533 people
    • Lenexa
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Fairway
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Fairway is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,963 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fairway <1>
    • Mission Woods
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Mission Woods is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission Woods
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
    • Countryside
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Countryside is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside
    • Merriam
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Mission
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Mission is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • 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>
    • Olathe
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Leavenworth County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Belton, with the one closest to Belton listed first.
    • Loring
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Linwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Linwood is located in Leavenworth County (KS)
      • 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
  • Miami County (KS)
  • Wyandotte County (KS)

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

Cemeteries Near Belton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Belton.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Belton, with the one closest to Belton 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 Belton had a population of 988 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Belton had a population of 23,793 people.

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

  • Harrelson
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Harrelson is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrelson
  • Raymore
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Belvidere
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Belvidere is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvidere
  • Jaudon
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jaudon is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaudon
  • Grandview
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Martin City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Martin City is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin City
  • Kenneth
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Kenneth is located in Johnson County (KS)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
  • Stilwell
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Peculiar
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • New Santa Fe
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • New Santa Fe is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Santa Fe
  • Hickman Mills
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Hickman Mills is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman Mills
  • Stanley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Belton ...

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 127 newspapers that have been published in the area around Belton.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Belton. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Belton and those printed in the larger area surrounding Belton.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<2> of Belton.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Belton:

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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Belton) 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 Belton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.