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 Chapel Hill (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 Chapel Hill. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
Chapel Hill is located in Lafayette 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 Lafayette County: Carroll, Jackson, Johnson, Pettis, Ray & Saline.
Below are the counties that are near Chapel Hill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Chapel Hill:
- Lafayette County (The home county of Chapel Hill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chapel Hill, with the one closest to Chapel Hill listed first.
- Lake Lafayette
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Lafayette is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Lafayette
- Population from the 2020 Census: 340 people
- Bates City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Odessa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Napoleon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Napoleon is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoleon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
- Waterloo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Waterloo is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
- Wellington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Mayview
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lexington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Aullville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Aullville is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aullville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
- Higginsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Page City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Page City is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Page City
- Corder
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Concordia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Carroll County
- Miles Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Miles Point is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miles Point
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chapel Hill, with the one closest to Chapel Hill listed first.
- Strasburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Baldwin Park
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Baldwin Park is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Pleasant Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Winnebago
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Lake Winnebago is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Winnebago
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,370 people
- Lee's Summit
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Gunn City
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Gunn City is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunn City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
- East Lynne
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Coleman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Coleman is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- Raymore
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Harrisonville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Garden City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Harrelson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Harrelson is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrelson
- Peculiar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chapel Hill, with the one closest to Chapel Hill listed first.
- Sugar Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Missouri City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Birmingham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Birmingham is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Minaville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Minaville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minaville
- East Kansas City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- East Kansas City is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Kansas City
- Randolph
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Randolph is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Claycomo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Claycomo is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claycomo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,526 people
- Glenaire
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Glenaire is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenaire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Liberty
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Prathersville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Prathersville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prathersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Stockdale ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stockdale is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockdale
- Excelsior Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Avondale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Avondale is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chapel Hill, with the one closest to Chapel Hill listed first.
- Blairstown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Blairstown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairstown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 95 people
- Norris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Norris is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Maurine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Maurine is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maurine
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chapel Hill, with the one closest to Chapel Hill listed first.
- Hicks City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hicks City is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks City
- Sni Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Sni Mills is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sni Mills
- Lone Jack
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cockrell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Cockrell is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cockrell
- Grain Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Lotawana
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Blue Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Levasy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Levasy is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levasy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Lake Tapawingo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Tapawingo is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Tapawingo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 719 people
- Greenwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Buckner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lake City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lake City is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chapel Hill, with the one closest to Chapel Hill listed first.
- Columbus
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Columbus is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
- Kingsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Holden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Greendoor
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Greendoor is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendoor
- Centerview
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- La Tour
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- La Tour is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Tour
- Latour
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Latour is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latour
- Warrensburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Quick City
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Quick City is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quick City
- Valley City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Valley City is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
- Chilhowee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Chilhowee is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chilhowee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
- Cornelia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cornelia is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornelia
- Knob Noster
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ray County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chapel Hill, with the one closest to Chapel Hill listed first.
- Camden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Fleming
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Fleming is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Orrick
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Albany
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Albany is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
- Henrietta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Henrietta is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 355 people
- Richmond
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Hardin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hardin is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 531 people
- Rayville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Wood Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Wood Heights is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 700 people
- Woods Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Woods Heights is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Heights
- Morton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Morton is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton
- Johnson County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chapel Hill, with the one closest to Chapel Hill listed first.
- Leawood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mission Hills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mission Hills is located in Johnson County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,533 people
- Mission Woods
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mission Woods is located in Johnson County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission Woods
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Westwood Hills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Westwood Hills is located in Johnson County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 390 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Chapel Hill, see our County-by-County Page for Chapel Hill.
Cemeteries Near Chapel Hill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Chapel Hill.
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 Chapel Hill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Chapel Hill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Chapel Hill, with the one closest to Chapel Hill listed first.
- Shore Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cobb Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Ferguson Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- McKendree Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Elm Spring Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Sni Mills Holiness Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Underwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Basin Knob Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Webb Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Corn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corn Cemetery
- The Corn Cemetery has also been known as:
- Henry Corn Cemetery
- Lone Jack Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (266 more) ...
- Lunday Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lundy Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bates City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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 Chapel Hill had a population of 82 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Chapel Hill, with the one closest to Chapel Hill listed first.
- Hicks City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hicks City is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks City
- Fulkerson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Fulkerson is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulkerson
- Elm
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Elm is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm
- Sni Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Sni Mills is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sni Mills
- Pittsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pittsville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Lone Jack
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bates City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Odessa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cockrell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Cockrell is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cockrell
- Columbus
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Columbus is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
- Greenton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Greenton is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenton
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Grain Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pink Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pink Hill is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pink Hill
- Strasburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Chapel Hill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Chapel Hill.
Newspapers Published in Chapel Hill ...
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 106 newspapers that have been published in the area around Chapel Hill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Chapel Hill, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Chapel Hill.
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 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 Chapel Hill:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Lafayette County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carroll County
- Cass County
- Clay County
- Henry County
- Jackson County
- Johnson County
- Ray County
- Johnson 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Chapel Hill) 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 Chapel Hill, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |