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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 Blue Branch (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 Blue Branch. 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.

Name Variations for Blue Branch ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Blue Branch: Blue Br. (or less commonly used: Blue Brnch.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Blue Branch. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Blue Branch.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Blue Branch is located in Benton 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 Benton County: Camden, Henry, Hickory, Morgan, Pettis & Saint Clair.

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

  • Benton County     (The home county of Blue Branch)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Branch, with the one closest to Blue Branch listed first.
    • Warsaw
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Tackner
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Tackner is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tackner
    • Edmonson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Edmonson is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmonson
    • Racket
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Racket is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racket
    • Lincoln
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Palo Pinto
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Palo Pinto is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo Pinto
    • Edwards
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Zora
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Zora is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zora
    • Cole Camp
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Ionia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Ionia is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ionia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 88 people
    • Mora
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Mora is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mora
  • Camden County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Branch, with the one closest to Blue Branch listed first.
    • Climax Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Barnumton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Barnumton is located in Camden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnumton
    • Macks Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Dallas County
    • Urbana
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Branch, with the one closest to Blue Branch listed first.
    • Tightwad
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Tightwad is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tightwad
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
    • Yolo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Yolo is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yolo
    • Alberta
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Alberta is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
    • Brownington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Brownington is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Calhoun
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Calhoun is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
    • Windsor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Deepwater
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Clinton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Bowen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Bowen is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowen
    • La Due
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • La Due is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Due
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 28 people
  • Hickory County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Branch, with the one closest to Blue Branch listed first.
    • Avery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Avery is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
    • Quincy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Quincy is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
    • Cross Timbers
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cross Timbers is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Timbers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 213 people
    • Hermitage
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Wheatland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Preston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Galmey
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Galmey is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galmey
    • Nemo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Nemo is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemo
    • Weaubleau
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Elkton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Elkton is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
    • Pittsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Branch, with the one closest to Blue Branch listed first.
    • Henrietta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Henrietta is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
    • Leeton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Leeton is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 557 people
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Branch, with the one closest to Blue Branch listed first.
    • Stover
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Laurie
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Gravois Mills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Pettis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Branch, with the one closest to Blue Branch listed first.
    • Spring Fork
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Spring Fork is located in Pettis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Fork
    • Green Ridge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Green Ridge is located in Pettis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Ridge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 495 people
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Branch, with the one closest to Blue Branch listed first.
    • Flemington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Flemington is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flemington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
    • Sentinel
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Sentinel is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sentinel
      • Former name for Sentinel:
      • Sentinel Prairie
  • Saint Clair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Branch, with the one closest to Blue Branch listed first.
    • Lowry City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Gerster
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Gerster is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gerster
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
    • Osceola
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Vista
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Vista is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vista
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
    • Collins
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Monegaw Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Monegaw Springs is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monegaw Springs
    • Roscoe
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Roscoe is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roscoe <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Blue Branch ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blue Branch.

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 Blue Branch - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blue Branch, with the one closest to Blue Branch listed first.

  • Dice Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Ballet Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • White Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Turkey Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Shawnee Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Peal Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Crabtree Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Vance Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • New Home Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Drake Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (243 more) ...
    • National Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Post Oak Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Poe Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)

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>

While we didn't find Blue Branch in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Blue Branch.

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

  • Warsaw
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Tackner
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Tackner is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tackner
  • Fairfield ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Fairfield is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
  • Edmonson
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Edmonson is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmonson
  • Bentonville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bentonville is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentonville
  • Hastain
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Hastain is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hastain
  • Lincoln
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Finey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Finey is located in Henry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finey
  • Avery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Avery is located in Hickory County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
  • Palo Pinto
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Palo Pinto is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo Pinto
  • Baker ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Baker is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
  • Edwards
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Leesville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Leesville is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
    • Iconium
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Iconium is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
    • Harper
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Harper is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper

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

Newspapers Published in Blue Branch ...

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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blue Branch.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blue Branch, 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 Blue Branch.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Blue Branch:

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 Blue Branch, 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- Blue Branch) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.