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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Orleans. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Orleans to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Orleans, please Contact Us.

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 Orleans (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 Orleans. 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 doctors 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Orleans is historic, it would have been located within present day Polk 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 Polk County: Cedar, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Hickory & Saint Clair.

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

  • Polk County     (The home county of Orleans)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Aldrich
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Aldrich is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldrich
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • Eudora
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Eudora is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eudora
    • Wishart
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Wishart is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishart
    • Graydon Springs
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Graydon Springs is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graydon Springs
    • Morrisville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Bolivar
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Fair Play
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Brighton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Dunnegan
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Dunnegan is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnegan
    • Pleasant Hope
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Goodnight
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Goodnight is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodnight
      • Estimated population in 2019: 18 people
      • Goodnight has also been known as:
      • Goodnight village
    • Halfway
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Halfway is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
  • Cedar County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Umber View Heights
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Umber View Heights is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Umber View Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
    • Stockton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Caplinger Mills
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Caplinger Mills is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caplinger Mills
    • Jerico Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Jerico Springs is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerico Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 232 people
  • Christian County
    • Republic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Dade County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Bona
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Bona is located in Dade County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bona
    • Dadeville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Corry
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Corry is located in Dade County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corry
    • Everton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Glen Town
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Glen Town is located in Dade County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Town
    • Pilgrim
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Pilgrim is located in Dade County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
    • Greenfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Arcola
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Arcola is located in Dade County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 53 people
    • South Greenfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • South Greenfield is located in Dade County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Greenfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
    • Lockwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Lockwood is located in Dade County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 897 people
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Buffalo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Louisburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Louisburg is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Charity ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Charity is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
    • Urbana
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Walnut Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Phenix ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Phenix is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
      • Phenix has also been known as:
      • Phenix Quarry
    • Ash Grove
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Willard
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Bois D'Arc
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Fair Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Brookline Station
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Brookline Station is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline Station
    • Brookline
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Brookline is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline
    • Springfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Langston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Langston is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
    • Mumford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Mumford is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mumford
    • Strafford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Hickory County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Elkton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Elkton is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
    • Pittsburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Weaubleau
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Galmey
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Galmey is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galmey
    • Nemo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Nemo is located in Hickory County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemo
    • Wheatland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Hermitage
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Lawrence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Stinson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Stinson is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
    • Halltown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Heatonville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Heatonville is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heatonville
    • Miller
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Round Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Round Grove is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Grove
  • Saint Clair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Collins
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Cobb
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Cobb is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb
    • Gerster
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Gerster is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gerster
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people
  • Webster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Elkland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Elkland is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkland
    • Conklin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Conklin is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin

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

Cemeteries Near Orleans ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Orleans.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.

  • Henderson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Hubbard Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Wollard Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Hensley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Spencer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • McDaniel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • King Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Shady Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Turkey Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Lemmon Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Trimble Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (246 more) ...
    • Morris Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Rice Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Akard Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)

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.

Orleans itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a population of 85 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Aldrich
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Aldrich is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldrich
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
  • Wishart
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Wishart is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishart
  • Graydon Springs
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Graydon Springs is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graydon Springs
  • Morrisville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Buckley ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Buckley is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckley
  • Walnut Grove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Slagle
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Slagle is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slagle
  • Dadeville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Fair Play
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Bolivar
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Harold
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Harold is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harold
  • Gresham ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Gresham is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Phenix ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Phenix is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
      • Phenix has also been known as:
      • Phenix Quarry
    • Sacville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Sacville is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sacville
    • Brighton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Orleans ...

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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around Orleans.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Orleans, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Orleans.

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 Orleans:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Orleans, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Orleans) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.