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 Perry (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 Perry. 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 and hospitals 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.
Perry is located in Ralls 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 Ralls County: Pike (IL), Audrain, Marion, Monroe & Pike.
Below are the counties that are near Perry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Perry:
- Ralls County (The home county of Perry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Perry, with the one closest to Perry listed first.
- Greenlawn
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Greenlawn is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlawn
- Shaver Ford ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Shaver Ford is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaver Ford
- Madisonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Madisonville is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- The Landing
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- The Landing is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Landing
- Center
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rensselaer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Rensselaer is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rensselaer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- New London
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Saverton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Saverton is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saverton
- Audrain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Perry, with the one closest to Perry listed first.
- Farber
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Farber is located in Audrain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farber
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Vandalia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Laddonia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Rush Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Rush Hill is located in Audrain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rush Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Vandiver
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vandiver is located in Audrain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandiver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Benton City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Benton City is located in Audrain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
- Mexico
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Martinsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Thompson
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Thompson is located in Audrain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
- Tulip
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Tulip is located in Audrain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulip
- Saling ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Saling is located in Audrain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saling
- Boone County
- Centralia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lincoln County
- Louisville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Louisville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisville
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Perry, with the one closest to Perry listed first.
- Oakwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oakwood is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Hannibal
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cave City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cave City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave City
- Dodge City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Dodge City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Palmyra
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Helton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Helton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Philadelphia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Philadelphia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Perry, with the one closest to Perry listed first.
- Florida
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Santa Fe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Santa Fe is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Fe
- Stoutsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Goss
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Goss is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goss
- North Fork
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- North Fork is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
- Paris
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Granville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Granville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Holliday
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Holliday is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Madison
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Woodlawn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Woodlawn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Perry, with the one closest to Perry listed first.
- Middletown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Middletown is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 150 people
- Wellsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Gamma
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Gamma is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gamma
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Perry, with the one closest to Perry listed first.
- Curryville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Curryville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Frankford
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- New Harmony
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- New Harmony is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Harmony
- Bowling Green
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Tarrants
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Tarrants is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarrants
- Population from the 2010 Census: 22 people
- Ashley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ashley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley
- Ashburn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ashburn is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashburn
- Population from the 2010 Census: 52 people
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Perry, with the one closest to Perry listed first.
- Hunnewell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hunnewell is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunnewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Lakenan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lakenan is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakenan
- Kendall
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Kendall is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Shelbina
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Emden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Emden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
- Adams County (IL)
- Fall Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fall Creek is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- Pike County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Perry, with the one closest to Perry listed first.
- Shepherd
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shepherd is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepherd
- Spencer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Spencer is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Perry, see our County-by-County Page for Perry.
Cemeteries Near Perry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Perry.
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 Perry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Perry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Perry, with the one closest to Perry listed first.
- Lick Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Wolf Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Muldrow Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Greenlawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Scobee Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Mt. Prairie Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Utterback Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Corinth Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Crigler Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Unity Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Madisonville Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Olivet Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (200 more) ...
- Adiel Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hawkins Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Norton Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
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 Perry had a population of 316 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Perry had a population of 702 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Perry, with the one closest to Perry listed first.
- Greenlawn
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Greenlawn is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlawn
- West Hartford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- West Hartford is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hartford
- Hutchison
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hutchison is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutchison
- Florida
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Victor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Victor is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victor
- Santa Fe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Santa Fe is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Fe
- Madisonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Madisonville is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- Center
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Worcester ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Worcester is located in Audrain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worcester
- Farber
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Farber is located in Audrain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farber
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Hatch
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hatch is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatch
- Strother
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Strother is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strother
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Vandalia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Indian Creek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
- Laddonia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Perry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Perry.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Perry ...
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 108 newspapers that have been published in the area around Perry.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Perry. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Perry and those printed in the larger area surrounding Perry.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3> of Perry.
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 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 Perry:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Ralls County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Audrain County
- Boone County
- Lincoln County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Pike County
- Shelby County
- Adams County
- Pike 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 Perry, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Perry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |