RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Missouri >> McDonald County >> May >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 May (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 May. 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 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.

May is located in McDonald 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 McDonald County: Benton (AR), Barry, Newton, Delaware (OK) & Ottawa (OK).

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

  • McDonald County     (The home county of May)
    • The following are listed by their distance from May, with the one closest to May listed first.
    • Goodman
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Tiff City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Tiff City is located in McDonald County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiff City
    • Erie
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Anderson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Lanagan
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Ginger Blue
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Ginger Blue is located in McDonald County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ginger Blue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
    • Wylie
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Noel
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Noel is located in McDonald County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,808 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Noel <1>
    • Pineville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • South West City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Jane
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Powell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Powell is located in McDonald County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
    • Rocky Comfort
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
  • Barry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from May, with the one closest to May listed first.
    • Wheaton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Pioneer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Ridgley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from May, with the one closest to May listed first.
    • Iron Gates
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Iron Gates is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gates
    • Rex City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Rex City is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rex City
    • Duquesne
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Duquesne is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duquesne
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,689 people
    • Joplin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Central City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Central City is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
    • Duenweg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • East Joplin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • West Joplin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Lone Elm
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Oakland Park
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Oakland Park is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Park
    • Fidelity
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Airport Drive
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Airport Drive is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airport Drive
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 862 people
    • Prosperity
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
  • Newton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from May, with the one closest to May listed first.
    • Seneca
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Racine
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Racine is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racine
    • Neosho
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Boulder City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Boulder City is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder City
    • Loma Linda
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Loma Linda is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loma Linda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
    • Spring City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Spring City is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring City
    • Stella
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Cliff Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Cliff Village is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliff Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 39 people
    • Redings Mill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Redings Mill is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redings Mill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 150 people
    • Shoal Creek Estates
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Shoal Creek Estates is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Creek Estates
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
    • Granby
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Grand Falls Plaza
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Grand Falls Plaza is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Falls Plaza
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 112 people
    • Granby City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Granby City is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granby City
  • Benton County (AR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from May, with the one closest to May listed first.
    • Sulphur Springs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Gravette
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Maysville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Rome City ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Rome City is located in Benton County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome City
    • Bella Vista
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Hiwasse
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Gallatin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Gallatin is located in Benton County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallatin
    • Pactolus ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Pactolus is located in Benton County (AR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pactolus
    • Decatur
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Centerton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Pea Ridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Cherokee County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from May, with the one closest to May listed first.
    • Commonwealth
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • East Galena
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • East Galena is located in Cherokee County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galena
    • South Galena
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • South Galena is located in Cherokee County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Galena
    • Baxter Junction
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Baxter Junction is located in Cherokee County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter Junction
    • Baxter Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Lowell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Lowell is located in Cherokee County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
      • Lowell has also been known as:
      • Lowell Station
    • Galena
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Empire City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Empire City is located in Cherokee County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire City
    • Riverton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Treece
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Treece is located in Cherokee County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Treece
      • Estimated population in 2012: 136 people
    • Cravensville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Badger
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Neutral
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Craig County (OK)
  • Delaware County (OK)
    • The following are listed by their distance from May, with the one closest to May listed first.
    • Cayuga
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Dodge
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Dodge is located in Delaware County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge
    • Grove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Copeland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Copeland is located in Delaware County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copeland
    • Bernice
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Dennis
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Dennis is located in Delaware County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennis
    • Zena
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Zena is located in Delaware County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zena
    • Sycamore
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Sycamore is located in Delaware County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
    • Brush Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Brush Creek is located in Delaware County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
    • Cleora
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Cleora is located in Delaware County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleora
    • Jay
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • New Eucha
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • New Eucha is located in Delaware County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Eucha
  • Ottawa County (OK)
    • The following are listed by their distance from May, with the one closest to May listed first.
    • Kellyville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Wyandotte
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Peoria
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Peoria is located in Ottawa County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Ottawa
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Fairland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Lincolnville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Quapaw
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Hockerville ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Miami
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Commerce
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • North Miami
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • North Miami is located in Ottawa County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Miami
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 370 people
    • Dotyville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Dotyville is located in Ottawa County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotyville
    • Narcissa
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Narcissa is located in Ottawa County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narcissa

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

Cemeteries Near May ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of May.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from May, with the one closest to May 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>

While we didn't find May in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of May.

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

  • Hart
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Hart is located in McDonald County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hart
  • Splitlog
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Splitlog is located in McDonald County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Splitlog
  • Coy
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Coy is located in McDonald County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coy
  • Tiff City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Tiff City is located in McDonald County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiff City
  • McElhany
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • McElhany is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McElhany
  • Seneca
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Anderson
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Erie
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Belfast
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Belfast is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfast
  • Racine
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Racine is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racine
  • Neosho
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Spurgeon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Spurgeon is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurgeon
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Christopher
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Christopher is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christopher
    • Saratoga
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Saratoga is located in McDonald County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
    • Noel
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Noel is located in McDonald County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,808 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Noel <1>

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

Newspapers Published in May ...

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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around May.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of May, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for May.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 May:

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 May, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- May) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.