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 Billings (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 Billings. 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 and doctors 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.
Billings is located in Christian 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 Christian County: Douglas, Greene, Lawrence, Stone, Taney & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Billings. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Billings:
- Christian County (The home county of Billings)
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Clever
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Republic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Nixa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Nixa is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23,330 people
- Former name for Nixa:
- Faught
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nixa <1>
- Cassidy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Cassidy is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassidy
- Fremont Hills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Fremont Hills is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 936 people
- Highlandville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ozark
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Spokane
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Green Mound Ridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Green Mound Ridge is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Mound Ridge
- Linden
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Linden is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
- Pembina
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Pembina is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pembina
- Chestnutridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Saddlebrooke
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Saddlebrooke is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saddlebrooke
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Saddlebrooke has also been known as:
- Saddlebrooke village
- Barry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Scholten
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Scholten is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scholten
- Leann
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Leann is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leann
- Tom Town ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Tom Town is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tom Town
- Jenkins
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Jenkins is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenkins
- Monett
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Star City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Star City is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Purdy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hill City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hill City is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill City
- Butterfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Butterfield is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 470 people
- Dade County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Everton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pilgrim
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Pilgrim is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
- South Greenfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- South Greenfield is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Greenfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Dadeville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Greenfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Corry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Corry is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corry
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Battlefield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Battlefield is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battlefield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,665 people
- Brookline Station
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brookline Station is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline Station
- Brookline
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brookline is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline
- Bois D'Arc
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Ash Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Springfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Willard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sequiota
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sequiota is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sequiota
- Langston
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Langston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
- Phenix ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Phenix is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Phenix has also been known as:
- Phenix Quarry
- Mumford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mumford is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mumford
- Turners
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Turners is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turners
- Walnut Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Jasper County
- La Russell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- La Russell is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Russell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Marionville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Halltown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Aurora
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Verona
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Verona is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
- Mount Vernon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Heatonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Heatonville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heatonville
- Stinson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stinson is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
- Hoberg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Hoberg is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoberg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Miller
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Freistatt
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Freistatt is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freistatt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Stotts City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Stotts City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stotts City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Round Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Round Grove is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Grove
- Pierce City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Talmage City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Talmage City is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talmage City
- Wentworth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Wentworth is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wentworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Graydon Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Graydon Springs is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graydon Springs
- Eudora
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Eudora is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eudora
- Brighton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Morrisville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Stone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Bradfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bradfield is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfield
- Union City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Union City is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
- Hurley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Crane
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Oto
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Oto is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oto
- White City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- White City is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Ponce de Leon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ponce de Leon is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponce de Leon
- Galena
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- McCord Bend
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- McCord Bend is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCord Bend
- Population from the 2020 Census: 304 people
- Cape Fair
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Reeds Spring
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Branson West
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Branson West is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branson West
- Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
- Lakeview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lakeview is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Taney County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Day
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Day is located in Taney County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day
- Bull Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bull Creek is located in Taney County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 633 people
- Walnut Shade
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut Shade is located in Taney County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Shade
- Webster County
- Rogersville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Billings, see our County-by-County Page for Billings.
Cemeteries Near Billings ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Billings.
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 Billings - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Billings covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- St. Peters Evangelical Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Laney Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Smart Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wise Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Brashers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Marionville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marionville Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Marionville Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Marionville.
- The Marionville Cemetery has also been known as:
- Marionville IOOF Cemetery
- Marionville IOOF Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #196833 <2>
- Steele Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Little Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Wade Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (297 more) ...
- Ruckman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Garoutte Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Grammer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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 Billings had a population of 464 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Billings had a population of 1,115 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Logan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Logan is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logan
- Republic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Marionville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bradfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bradfield is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfield
- Chesapeake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Chesapeake is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesapeake
- School
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- School is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for School
- Halltown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Griffin ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Griffin is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- Brookline Station
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brookline Station is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline Station
- Yeakley ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Yeakley is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeakley
- Aurora
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Paris Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Paris Springs is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris Springs
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Spencer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Spencer is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
- Lawrenceburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lawrenceburg is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrenceburg
- Bois D'Arc
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Billings. See our List of 1890's Communities around Billings.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Billings ...
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 110 newspapers that have been published in the area around Billings.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Billings. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Billings and those printed in the larger area surrounding Billings.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4> of Billings.
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 Billings:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Christian County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barry County
- Dade County
- Greene County
- Jasper County
- Lawrence County
- Newton County
- Polk County
- Stone County
- Taney County
- Webster County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Missouri
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 Billings, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Billings) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |