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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 Neosho (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 Neosho. 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 Neosho ...

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.

In past government published Postal Guides, Neosho was referred to as Neosho Courthouse.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Neosho. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Neosho.

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.

For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.

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 hospitals and 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.

Neosho is located in Newton 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 Newton County: Cherokee (KS), Barry, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald & Ottawa (OK).

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

  • Newton County     (The home county of Neosho)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Neosho, with the one closest to Neosho listed first.
    • Granby City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Granby City is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granby City
    • Granby
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Boulder City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Boulder City is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder City
    • Racine
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Racine is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racine
    • Stark City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Diamond
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Newtonia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Ritchey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ritchey is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritchey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Park is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park
    • Saginaw
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Saginaw is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
    • Shoal Creek Estates
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Shoal Creek Estates is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Creek Estates
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
    • Silver Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Silver Creek is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Creek
      • Estimated population in 2012: 631 people
  • Barry County
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Neosho, with the one closest to Neosho listed first.
    • Rex City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Rex City is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rex City
    • Duquesne
      (14 miles [22.5 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
    • Duenweg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Fidelity
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Motley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Parshley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • East Joplin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Joplin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Oakland Park
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Oakland Park is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Park
    • Prosperity
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Iron Gates
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Iron Gates is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gates
    • West Joplin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Lawrence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Neosho, with the one closest to Neosho listed first.
    • Pierce City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Freistatt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Freistatt is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freistatt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
    • Stotts City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • McDonald County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Neosho, with the one closest to Neosho listed first.
    • Erie
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Goodman
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • May
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Wylie
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Anderson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Rocky Comfort
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Lanagan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Ginger Blue
      (19 miles [30.6 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
    • Powell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Powell is located in McDonald County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
    • Tiff City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Tiff City is located in McDonald County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiff City
    • Pineville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Jane
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
  • Benton County (AR)
  • Cherokee County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Neosho, with the one closest to Neosho listed first.
    • East Galena
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • East Galena is located in Cherokee County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galena
    • Galena
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • South Galena
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • South Galena is located in Cherokee County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Galena
    • Empire City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Empire City is located in Cherokee County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire City
    • Baxter Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Commonwealth
      (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
    • Baxter Junction
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Baxter Junction is located in Cherokee County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter Junction
    • Riverton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Badger
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Crestline
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Treece
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Treece is located in Cherokee County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Treece
      • Estimated population in 2012: 136 people
  • Delaware County (OK)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Neosho, with the one closest to Neosho listed first.
    • Cayuga
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Dodge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Dodge is located in Delaware County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge
    • Copeland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Copeland is located in Delaware County (OK)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copeland
    • Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Ottawa County (OK)

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

Cemeteries Near Neosho ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Neosho.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Neosho, with the one closest to Neosho 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 Neosho had a population of 2,198 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Neosho had a population of 12,116 people.

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

  • Belfast
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Belfast is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfast
  • McElhany
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • McElhany is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McElhany
  • Christopher
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Christopher is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christopher
  • Granby
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Spurgeon
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Spurgeon is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurgeon
  • Tipton Ford
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Tipton Ford is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton Ford
  • Racine
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Racine is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racine
  • Erie
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Diamond
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Wanda
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Wanda is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wanda
  • Newtonia
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Ritchey
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ritchey is located in Newton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritchey
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Splitlog
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Splitlog is located in McDonald County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Splitlog
    • Stella
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Saginaw
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Saginaw is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Neosho ...

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 103 newspapers that have been published in the area around Neosho.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Neosho. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Neosho and those printed in the larger area surrounding Neosho.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4> of Neosho.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Neosho:

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 Neosho, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Neosho) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.