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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 Independence (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 Independence. 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 and 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.

Independence is primarily located in Jackson County and is the County Seat. A portion of Independence extends into Clay 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 Jackson County: Johnson (KS), Wyandotte (KS), Cass, Clay, Johnson, Lafayette & Ray.

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

  • Jackson County     (The home county of Independence)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
    • Lee's Summit
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Lake Winnebago
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Lake Winnebago is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Winnebago
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,370 people
    • Belton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Raymore
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Loch Lloyd
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Loch Lloyd is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loch Lloyd
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 835 people
      • Loch Lloyd has also been known as:
      • Loch Lloyd village
    • Harrelson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Harrelson is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrelson
    • Pleasant Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Baldwin Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Baldwin Park is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
    • Coleman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Riverview Estates
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Riverview Estates is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview Estates
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
      • Riverview Estates has also been known as:
      • Riverview Estates village
    • Peculiar
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Strasburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Cleveland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
    • Sugar Creek
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Birmingham
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Minaville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • East Kansas City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • East Kansas City is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Kansas City
    • Randolph
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Glenaire
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Glenaire is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenaire
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
    • Avondale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Avondale is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
    • Claycomo
      (8 miles [12.9 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
    • Woodhill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Pleasant Valley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Pleasant Valley is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,047 people
    • North Kansas City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Liberty
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Acme
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Acme is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
    • Lilly
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Trimble
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Converse
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Johnson County
    • Kingsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Lafayette County
  • Platte County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
    • Northmoor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Northmoor is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northmoor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 362 people
    • Riverside
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Houston Lake
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Houston Lake is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
    • Lake Waukomis
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake Waukomis is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Waukomis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 874 people
    • Platte Woods
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Platte Woods is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platte Woods
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 406 people
    • Parkville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Weatherby Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Weatherby Lake is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weatherby Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,086 people
    • Linkville ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Ferrelview
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Ferrelview is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferrelview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 800 people
    • Waldron
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Waldron is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldron
    • Farley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Farley is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 304 people
    • Platte City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • East Leavenworth
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Ray County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
    • Orrick
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Albany
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Albany is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
    • Fleming
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Fleming is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
    • Homestead
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Homestead is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homestead
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
    • Wood Heights
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Wood Heights is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 700 people
    • Woods Heights
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Camden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Crystal Lakes
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Crystal Lakes is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lakes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
    • Excelsior Estates
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Excelsior Estates is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior Estates
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
    • Rayville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Lawson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Richmond
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Henrietta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Henrietta is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 355 people
  • Johnson County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
    • Mission Woods
      (11 miles [17.7 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
      (11 miles [17.7 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
    • Westwood
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Westwood is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,642 people
    • Fairway
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairway is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,963 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fairway <1>
    • Mission Hills
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Mission Hills is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,533 people
    • Roeland Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Prairie Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Mission
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Mission is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,873 people
      • Former name for Mission:
      • Mission Hill Acres
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mission <1>
    • Countryside
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Countryside is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside
    • Leawood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Merriam
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Lenexa
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake Quivira
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Lake Quivira is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Quivira
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
  • Leavenworth County (KS)
  • Miami County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
    • Wea
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bucyrus
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Wyandotte County (KS)

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

Cemeteries Near Independence ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Independence.

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

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

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

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 Independence had a population of 6,380 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Independence had a population of 116,774 people.

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

  • Maywood
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Englewood
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Englewood is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englewood
  • Mount Washington
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Mount Washington is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Washington
  • Adams
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Courtney
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Courtney is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Courtney
  • Centropolis
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Centropolis is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centropolis
  • Leeds
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Birmingham
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Minaville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Randolph
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Raytown
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Little Blue
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Blue Mills
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Blue Mills is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Mills
    • Thornton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Thornton is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
    • Lake City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Lake City is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Independence ...

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 187 newspapers that have been published in the area around Independence.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Independence. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Independence and those printed in the larger area surrounding Independence.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3> of Independence.

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 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 Independence:

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