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 Halfway (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 Halfway. 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 Halfway ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Half Way.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Halfway. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Halfway.
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 northwest 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 north.
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 north 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.
Halfway is located in Polk 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 Polk County: Cedar, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Hickory & Saint Clair.
Below are the counties that are near Halfway. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Halfway:
- Polk County (The home county of Halfway)
- The following are listed by their distance from Halfway, with the one closest to Halfway listed first.
- Goodson
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Goodson is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodson
- Polk
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Polk is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk
- Bolivar
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Hope
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Goodnight
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Goodnight is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodnight
- Estimated population in 2019: 18 people
- Goodnight has also been known as:
- Goodnight village
- Tin Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Tin Town is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tin Town
- Sentinel
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Sentinel is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sentinel
- Former name for Sentinel:
- Sentinel Prairie
- Brighton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Morrisville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wishart
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wishart is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishart
- Rondo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rondo is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rondo
- Aldrich
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Aldrich is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldrich
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Camden County
- Macks Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halfway, with the one closest to Halfway listed first.
- Stockton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Umber View Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Umber View Heights is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Umber View Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
- Dade County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halfway, with the one closest to Halfway listed first.
- Bona
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Bona is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bona
- Dadeville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Corry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Corry is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corry
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halfway, with the one closest to Halfway listed first.
- Buffalo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Louisburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Louisburg is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Charity ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Charity is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
- Urbana
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Long Lane
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Long Lane is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Lane
- Windyville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Windyville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windyville
- Tunas
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Tunas is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunas
- Leadmine
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Leadmine is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leadmine
- Westfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Westfield is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield
- Celt
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Celt is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Celt
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halfway, with the one closest to Halfway listed first.
- Fair Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Walnut Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Phenix ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Phenix is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Phenix has also been known as:
- Phenix Quarry
- Strafford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Willard
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ash Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Springfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Bois D'Arc
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mumford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mumford is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mumford
- Langston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Langston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
- Turners
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Turners is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turners
- Hickory County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halfway, with the one closest to Halfway listed first.
- Pittsburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Nemo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Nemo is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemo
- Elkton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Elkton is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Galmey
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Galmey is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galmey
- Preston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hermitage
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Wheatland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Weaubleau
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cross Timbers
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cross Timbers is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Timbers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 213 people
- Quincy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Quincy is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Laclede County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halfway, with the one closest to Halfway listed first.
- Conway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Phillipsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Brush Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Brush Creek is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Eldridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halfway, with the one closest to Halfway listed first.
- Collins
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gerster
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gerster is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gerster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Halfway, with the one closest to Halfway listed first.
- Elkland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Elkland is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkland
- Conklin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Conklin is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin
- Marshfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Northview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Northview is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
- Niangua
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Niangua is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niangua
- Population from the 2020 Census: 424 people
- Crown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Crown is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
- Rader
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rader is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rader
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Halfway, see our County-by-County Page for Halfway.
Cemeteries Near Halfway ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Halfway.
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 Halfway - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Halfway covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Halfway, with the one closest to Halfway listed first.
- Reed Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Ragsdale Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Gorden Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Goff Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Viles Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Reynolds Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Ankrom Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Church Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dunaway Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- The Dunaway Cemetery is located on private property - be sure to secure permission before visiting.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunaway Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Dunaway Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the northeast of Bolivar.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #28482 <3>
- Mt. Gilread Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Case Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (240 more) ...
- Fraker Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Macedonia Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Breshears Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 Halfway had a population of 89 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Halfway had a population of 179 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Halfway, with the one closest to Halfway listed first.
- Burns
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Burns is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
- Schofield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Schofield is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schofield
- Reynolds
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Reynolds is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynolds
- Sunset
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sunset is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset
- Goodson
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Goodson is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodson
- Polk
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Polk is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk
- Buffalo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Slagle
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Slagle is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slagle
- Redtop
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Redtop is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redtop
- Bolivar
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Hope
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- March
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- March is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for March
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Goodnight
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Goodnight is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodnight
- Estimated population in 2019: 18 people
- Goodnight has also been known as:
- Goodnight village
- Louisburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Louisburg is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Sentinel
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Sentinel is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sentinel
- Former name for Sentinel:
- Sentinel Prairie
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Halfway. See our List of 1890's Communities around Halfway.
Newspapers Published in Halfway ...
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 59 newspapers that have been published in the area around Halfway.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Halfway, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Halfway.
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 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 Halfway:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Camden County
- Cedar County
- Dade County
- Dallas County
- Greene County
- Hickory County
- Laclede County
- Saint Clair 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> | 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- Halfway) 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 Halfway, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |