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 Macon (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 Macon. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Macon is located in Macon 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 Macon County: Adair, Chariton, Knox, Linn, Monroe, Randolph, Shelby & Sullivan.
Below are the counties that are near Macon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Macon:
- Macon County (The home county of Macon)
- The following are listed by their distance from Macon, with the one closest to Macon listed first.
- Bevier
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Bloomington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bloomington is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomington
- Anabel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Anabel is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anabel
- Excello
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ardmore
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ardmore is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardmore
- Callao
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Atlanta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Atlanta is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlanta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 384 people
- Economy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Economy is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Economy
- Woodville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Woodville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Barnesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Barnesville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Kaseyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kaseyville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaseyville
- Love Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Love Lake is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Love Lake
- New Cambria
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Adair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Macon, with the one closest to Macon listed first.
- Wilson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Wilson is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Gibbs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Millard
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Millard is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
- Yarrow ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Yarrow is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yarrow
- Nind ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Nind is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nind
- Brashear
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Brashear is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brashear
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Bullion ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bullion is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullion
- Chariton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Macon, with the one closest to Macon listed first.
- Chraneville ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chraneville is located in Chariton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chraneville
- Salisbury
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Macon, with the one closest to Macon listed first.
- Novelty
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Plevna
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Plevna is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plevna
- Hedge City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hedge City is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedge City
- Hurdland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hurdland is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurdland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Macon, with the one closest to Macon listed first.
- Bucklin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Bucklin is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucklin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 431 people
- New Boston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- New Boston is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Marceline
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Macon, with the one closest to Macon listed first.
- Duncans Bridge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Duncans Bridge is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncans Bridge
- Woodlawn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Woodlawn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
- Ash
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ash is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash
- Evansville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Evansville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Granville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Granville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Madison
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Holliday
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Holliday is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Middle Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Middle Grove is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Grove
- North Fork
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- North Fork is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
- Paris
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Macon, with the one closest to Macon listed first.
- Jacksonville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Jacksonville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Darksville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Darksville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darksville
- Cairo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Cairo is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Thomas Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Thomas Hill is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Hill
- Huntsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Moberly
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Clifton Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Clifton Hill is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
- Renick
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Renick is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Higbee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Yates
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Yates is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Macon, with the one closest to Macon listed first.
- Clarence
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Enterprise
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Enterprise is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Lentner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lentner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentner
- Leonard
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Kirby
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Kirby is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Shelbina
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Shelbyville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Shelbyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 512 people
- Bethel
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lakenan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lakenan is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakenan
- Kendall
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Kendall is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Macon, see our County-by-County Page for Macon.
Cemeteries Near Macon ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Macon.
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 Macon - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Macon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Macon, with the one closest to Macon listed first.
- Oakwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- East Woodlawn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Hillcrest Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bellview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Kellogg Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Richards Dale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Charles Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- East Oakwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- West Oakwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (200 more) ...
- Ewing Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Bloomington Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Powell 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Macon had a population of 3,371 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Macon had a population of 5,341 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Macon, with the one closest to Macon listed first.
- Bevier
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Narrows Creek ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Narrows Creek is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narrows Creek
- Ten Mile
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ten Mile is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ten Mile
- Lyda ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lyda is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyda
- Bloomington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bloomington is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomington
- Ardmore
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ardmore is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardmore
- Chariton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chariton is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chariton
- Excello
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Anabel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Anabel is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anabel
- Cox
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cox is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cox
- Callao
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- College Mound
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- College Mound is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Mound
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Seney
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Seney is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seney
- Jacksonville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Jacksonville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Atlanta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Atlanta is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlanta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 384 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Macon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Macon.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Macon ...
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 93 newspapers that have been published in the area around Macon.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Macon. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Macon and those printed in the larger area surrounding Macon.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Macon.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Macon:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Macon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adair County
- Chariton County
- Knox County
- Linn County
- Monroe County
- Randolph County
- Shelby 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> | 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 Macon, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Macon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |