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 Opal (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 Opal. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Opal is located in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County: Barry, Christian, Dade, Greene, Jasper, Newton & Stone.
Below are the counties that are near Opal. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Opal:
- Lawrence County (The home county of Opal)
- The following are listed by their distance from Opal, with the one closest to Opal listed first.
- Verona
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Verona is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
- Aurora
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hoberg
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hoberg is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoberg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Mount Vernon
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Marionville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Freistatt
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Freistatt is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freistatt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Heatonville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Heatonville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heatonville
- Stotts City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stotts City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stotts City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Miller
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Pierce City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Halltown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Stinson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Stinson is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
- Barry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opal, with the one closest to Opal listed first.
- Tom Town ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Tom Town is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tom Town
- Monett
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Scholten
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Scholten is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scholten
- Leann
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Leann is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leann
- Purdy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jenkins
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Jenkins is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenkins
- Star City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Star City is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Butterfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Butterfield is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 470 people
- Pioneer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pioneer is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
- Wheaton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cassville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Exeter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opal, with the one closest to Opal listed first.
- Billings
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Clever
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Republic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Nixa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Nixa is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23,330 people
- Former name for Nixa:
- Faught
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nixa <1>
- Highlandville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cassidy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cassidy is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassidy
- Fremont Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Fremont Hills is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 936 people
- Spokane
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Green Mound Ridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Green Mound Ridge is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Mound Ridge
- Dade County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opal, with the one closest to Opal listed first.
- Everton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Pilgrim
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Pilgrim is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
- South Greenfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- South Greenfield is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Greenfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Greenfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Lockwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lockwood is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 897 people
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opal, with the one closest to Opal listed first.
- Bois D'Arc
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brookline Station
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brookline Station is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline Station
- Brookline
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brookline is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline
- Ash Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Battlefield
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Battlefield is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battlefield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,665 people
- Phenix ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Phenix is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Phenix has also been known as:
- Phenix Quarry
- Willard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Springfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sequiota
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sequiota is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sequiota
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opal, with the one closest to Opal listed first.
- La Russell
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- La Russell is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Russell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Sarcoxie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Reeds
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Reeds is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
- Avilla
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Avilla is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilla
- Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
- Motley
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Motley is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Maple Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Maple Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
- Forest Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Mills is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Mills
- Parshley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Parshley is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parshley
- Fidelity
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Fidelity is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fidelity
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- McDonald County
- Rocky Comfort
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rocky Comfort is located in McDonald County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Comfort
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opal, with the one closest to Opal listed first.
- Wentworth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Wentworth is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wentworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Talmage City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Talmage City is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talmage City
- Fairview
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Park
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Park is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park
- Ritchey
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Ritchey is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritchey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Newtonia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Stark City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Granby
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Granby City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Granby City is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granby City
- Stella
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Boulder City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Boulder City is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder City
- Diamond
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Diamond is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 909 people
- Former names for Diamond:
- Diamond Grove
- Diamond Mill
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Diamond <1>
- Stone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opal, with the one closest to Opal listed first.
- Bradfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Bradfield is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfield
- Crane
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hurley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Union City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Union City is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
- Oto
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Oto is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oto
- McCord Bend
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- McCord Bend is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCord Bend
- Population from the 2020 Census: 304 people
- Galena
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- White City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- White City is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Cape Fair
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ponce de Leon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ponce de Leon is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponce de Leon
- Reeds Spring
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Branson West
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Branson West is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branson West
- Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Opal, see our County-by-County Page for Opal.
Cemeteries Near Opal ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Opal.
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 Opal - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Opal covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Opal, with the one closest to Opal listed first.
- Zion Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lee Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Orange Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Toliver Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Berry Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Old Aurora City Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Aurora City Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Old Aurora City Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Aurora.
- The Old Aurora City Cemetery has also been known as:
- Aurora City Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1405304 <2>
- IOOF Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Crawford Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Vernon IOOF Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Roberts Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Spanish Fort Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Spring River Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring River Cemetery
- The Spring River Cemetery has also been known as:
- Shady Grove Cemetery
- Spring Grove Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #31740 <2>
- Continue List (291 more) ...
- Maple Park Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Park Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Maple Park Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the south of Aurora.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #29981 <2>
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Grammer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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>
While we didn't find Opal in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Opal.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Opal, with the one closest to Opal listed first.
- Verona
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Verona is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
- Aurora
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Vernon
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Marionville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Freistatt
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Freistatt is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freistatt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Logan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Logan is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logan
- Chesapeake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Chesapeake is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesapeake
- Monett
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bradfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Bradfield is located in Stone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfield
- Spencer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Spencer is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
- Billings
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Paris Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Paris Springs is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris Springs
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Pierce City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Miller
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- McDowell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- McDowell is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Opal. See our List of 1890's Communities around Opal.
Newspapers Published in Opal ...
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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around Opal.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Opal, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Opal.
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 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 Opal:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Lawrence County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barry County
- Christian County
- Dade County
- Greene County
- Jasper County
- McDonald County
- Newton County
- Stone 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> | 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Opal) 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 Opal, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |