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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 Kansas City (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 Kansas City. 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 northwest 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 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.

Kansas City is primarily located in Jackson County. A portion of Kansas City extends into Clay County, Platte County and Cass 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 Kansas City. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Kansas City:

  • Jackson County     (The home county of Kansas City)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kansas City, with the one closest to Kansas City listed first.
    • Leeds
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Maywood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Cement City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Cement City is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cement City
    • Independence
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Indian Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Indian Village is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Raytown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Holmes Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • River Bend
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • River Bend is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Bend
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10 people
    • Little Blue
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Adams
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • New Santa Fe
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • New Santa Fe is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Santa Fe
    • Unity Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Unity Village is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
    • Lake Tapawingo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Lake Tapawingo is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Tapawingo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 719 people
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kansas City, with the one closest to Kansas City listed first.
    • Lee's Summit
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Loch Lloyd
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • 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
    • Belton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Raymore
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Lake Winnebago
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Winnebago is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Winnebago
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,370 people
    • Harrelson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Harrelson is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrelson
    • 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
    • Coleman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Peculiar
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Pleasant Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Baldwin Park
      (27 miles [43.5 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
    • Cleveland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Lake Annette
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Lake Annette is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Annette
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kansas City, with the one closest to Kansas City listed first.
    • North Kansas City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Avondale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Avondale is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
    • Woodhill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • East Kansas City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • East Kansas City is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Kansas City
    • Randolph
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Sugar Creek
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Oaks
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Oaks is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Oakview
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Oakview is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 393 people
    • Oakwood Park
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Oakwood Park is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
    • Oakwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Oakwood is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
    • Minaville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Birmingham
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Claycomo
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Claycomo is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claycomo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,526 people
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kansas City, with the one closest to Kansas City listed first.
    • Lilly
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Trimble
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
  • Lafayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kansas City, with the one closest to Kansas City listed first.
    • Napoleon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Napoleon is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoleon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Bates City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Waterloo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Platte County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kansas City, with the one closest to Kansas City listed first.
    • Riverside
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Northmoor
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Northmoor is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northmoor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 362 people
    • Houston Lake
      (7 miles [11.3 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
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Lake Waukomis is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Waukomis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 874 people
    • Parkville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Platte Woods
      (10 miles [16.1 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
    • Weatherby Lake
      (11 miles [17.7 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
    • Waldron
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Waldron is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldron
    • Ferrelview
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Ferrelview is located in Platte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferrelview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 800 people
    • Linkville ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Farley
      (19 miles [30.6 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
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • East Leavenworth
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Ray County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kansas City, with the one closest to Kansas City listed first.
    • Orrick
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Albany
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Albany is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
    • Crystal Lakes
      (27 miles [43.5 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
    • Homestead
      (27 miles [43.5 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
      (27 miles [43.5 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
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Fleming
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Fleming is located in Ray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
    • Excelsior Estates
      (28 miles [45.1 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
    • Camden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Lawson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Douglas County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kansas City, with the one closest to Kansas City listed first.
    • Weaver
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Weaver is located in Douglas County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
    • Hesper
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Eudora
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Johnson County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kansas City, with the one closest to Kansas City listed first.
    • Mission Woods
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • 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
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Westwood Hills is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 390 people
    • Westwood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Westwood is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,642 people
    • Fairway
      (5 miles [8 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>
    • Roeland Park
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Mission Hills
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • 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
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • 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
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Countryside is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside
    • Prairie Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Merriam
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Leawood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Lake Quivira
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lake Quivira is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Quivira
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
    • Lenexa
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Leavenworth County (KS)
  • Miami County (KS)
  • Wyandotte County (KS)

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

Cemeteries Near Kansas City ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kansas City.

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 Kansas City - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Kansas City, with the one closest to Kansas City 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Kansas City had a population of 132,716 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Kansas City had a population of 497,159 people.

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

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Kansas City ...

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 312 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kansas City.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Kansas City. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Kansas City and those printed in the larger area surrounding Kansas City.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4> of Kansas City.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Kansas City:

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