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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 Forsyth (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 Forsyth. 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.

Forsyth is located in Taney County and is the County Seat.

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 Taney County: Boone (AR), Carroll (AR), Marion (AR), Christian, Douglas, Ozark & Stone.

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

  • Taney County     (The home county of Forsyth)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forsyth, with the one closest to Forsyth listed first.
    • Powersite
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Powersite is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersite
    • Rockaway Beach
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Kissee Mills
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Merriam Woods
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Merriam Woods is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merriam Woods
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,859 people
    • Kirbyville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Bull Creek
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Bull Creek is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 633 people
    • Taneyville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Taneyville is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taneyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
    • Walnut Shade
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Walnut Shade is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Shade
    • Hollister
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Melva ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Branson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Cedarcreek
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Cedarcreek is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarcreek
    • Day
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Barry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forsyth, with the one closest to Forsyth listed first.
    • Shell Knob
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Arrow Point
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Arrow Point is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrow Point
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
    • Hill City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Hill City is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill City
    • Scholten
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Christian County
  • Douglas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forsyth, with the one closest to Forsyth listed first.
    • Rome
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Red Bank
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Smallett
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Arden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Johns Mills ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Johns Mills is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johns Mills
    • Squires
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Squires is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squires
  • Ozark County
  • Stone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forsyth, with the one closest to Forsyth listed first.
    • Indian Point
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Silver Dollar City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Silver Dollar City is located in Stone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Dollar City
    • Lakeview
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Lakeview is located in Stone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
    • Branson West
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Branson West is located in Stone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branson West
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
    • Reeds Spring
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Coney Island
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Kimberling City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Ponce de Leon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Ponce de Leon is located in Stone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponce de Leon
    • Blue Eye
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Lampe
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Marmaros
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • White City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • White City is located in Stone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Cape Fair
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
  • Webster County
  • Boone County (AR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forsyth, with the one closest to Forsyth listed first.
    • Boone
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Lowry
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Omaha
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Omaha is located in Boone County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Omaha <1>
    • Diamond City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Lead Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Burlington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Myrtle
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • South Lead Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • South Lead Hill is located in Boone County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lead Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
    • Shaver ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Shaver is located in Boone County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaver
    • Elixir ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Ridgeway
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Bergman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Keener ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
  • Carroll County (AR)
  • Marion County (AR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forsyth, with the one closest to Forsyth listed first.
    • Monarch
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Peel
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Dodd City ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Dodd City is located in Marion County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodd City

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

Cemeteries Near Forsyth ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Forsyth.

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

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

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

  • Forsyth Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Mountain Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Snapp Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Casey Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Howard Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Ragsdale Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Edwards Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Kissee Mills Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Renshaw Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Ozarks Memorial Park
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Vanzandt Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Brittain Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (295 more) ...
    • Grant Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Dickens Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Walnut Shade 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Forsyth had a population of 285 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Forsyth had a population of 2,560 people.

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

  • Kissee Mills
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Kirbyville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Walnut Shade
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Walnut Shade is located in Taney County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Shade
  • Mincy
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Mincy is located in Taney County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mincy
  • Swan
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Swan is located in Taney County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
  • Branson
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Cedarcreek
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Cedarcreek is located in Taney County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarcreek
  • Eaudevie ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Eaudevie is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eaudevie
  • Garrison
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Garrison is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrison
  • Day
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Cedar Valley ‑ Historic
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Cedar Valley is located in Taney County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
  • Hercules
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Hercules is located in Taney County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hercules
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Bradleyville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Bradleyville is located in Taney County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradleyville
    • Ruth
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Ruth is located in Stone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
    • Lowry
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Forsyth ...

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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Forsyth.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Forsyth. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Forsyth and those printed in the larger area surrounding Forsyth.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 23 miles [37 km]<3> of Forsyth.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Forsyth:

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>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 Forsyth, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 from Point A (ie- Forsyth) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.