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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 Punkin Center (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 Punkin Center. 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 Punkin Center ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Punkin Center: Punkin Ctr. (or less commonly used: Punkin Cen., Punkin Cent. or Punkin Cntr.)

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

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.

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 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.

Punkin Center is located in Howard 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 Howard County: Boone, Chariton, Cooper, Randolph & Saline.

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

  • Howard County     (The home county of Punkin Center)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
    • Sebree
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Sebree is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebree
    • Burton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Burton is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
    • Fayette
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Armstrong
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Armstrong is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
    • Steinmetz
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Steinmetz is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steinmetz
    • New Franklin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Glasgow
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Franklin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Lisbon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Lisbon is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
  • Audrain County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
    • Larrabee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Larrabee is located in Audrain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larrabee
    • Saling ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Saling is located in Audrain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saling
    • Tulip
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Tulip is located in Audrain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulip
    • Thompson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Thompson is located in Audrain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
    • Harrisburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Riggs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Riggs is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riggs
    • Sturgeon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Hinton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Hinton is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinton
    • Rocheport
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Hallsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Stephens
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Stephens is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stephens
    • Columbia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Moores Switch
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Moores Switch is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moores Switch
    • Centralia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Huntsdale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Huntsdale is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntsdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
    • McBaine
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • McBaine is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBaine
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12 people
  • Callaway County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
    • Stephens
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Stephens is located in Callaway County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stephens
    • Lindbergh
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lindbergh is located in Callaway County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindbergh
    • Hatton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Hatton is located in Callaway County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
  • Chariton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
    • Lewis Mill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Lewis Mill is located in Chariton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis Mill
    • Oil City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Oil City is located in Chariton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
    • Salisbury
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Keytesville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Namrash ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Namrash is located in Chariton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Namrash
    • Dalton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Dalton is located in Chariton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16 people
  • Cooper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
    • Wooldridge
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Wooldridge is located in Cooper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooldridge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
    • Boonville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Windsor Place village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Windsor Place village is located in Cooper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor Place village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 330 people
      • Windsor Place village has also been known as:
      • Windsor Place village
    • Clarks Fork
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Clarks Fork is located in Cooper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Fork
    • Lamine
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lamine is located in Cooper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamine
    • Prairie Home
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Prairie Home is located in Cooper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Home
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 280 people
    • Lone Elm
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Lone Elm is located in Cooper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Elm
    • Blackwater
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Pisgah
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Pisgah is located in Cooper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
    • Excello
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Ardmore
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Ardmore is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardmore
    • Kaseyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Kaseyville is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaseyville
    • Woodville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Woodville is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
  • Moniteau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
    • Lupus
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Lupus is located in Moniteau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lupus
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
    • Jamestown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
    • Middle Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Middle Grove is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Grove
    • Evansville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Evansville is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
    • Ash
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Ash is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash
    • Madison
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Holliday
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Holliday is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Duncans Bridge
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Duncans Bridge is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncans Bridge
    • Woodlawn
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodlawn is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
  • Randolph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
    • Higbee
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Yates
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Yates is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
    • Clark
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Clark is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
    • Renick
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Renick is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renick
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
    • Moberly
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Huntsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Clifton Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Clifton Hill is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • Cairo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Cairo is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
    • Thomas Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Thomas Hill is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Hill
    • Darksville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Darksville is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darksville
    • Jacksonville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Jacksonville is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
  • Saline County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
    • West Glasgow
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • West Glasgow is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Glasgow
    • Saline City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Saline City is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline City
    • Arrow Rock
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Gilliam
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Gilliam is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilliam
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 191 people
    • Slater
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Punkin Center ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Punkin Center.

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 Punkin Center - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Linn Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Ancell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Atkins Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Woods Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Guren Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Givens Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Thompson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Burnam Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Mt. Nebo Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Barnes Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Harrisburg Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (195 more) ...
    • Jackson Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Todd Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Old Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)

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>

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

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

  • Sebree
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Sebree is located in Howard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebree
  • Harrisburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Burton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Burton is located in Howard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
  • Rileysburg ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Rileysburg is located in Boone County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rileysburg
  • Higbee
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Perche ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Perche is located in Boone County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perche
  • Riggs
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Riggs is located in Boone County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riggs
  • Yates
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Yates is located in Randolph County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
  • Woodlandville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Woodlandville is located in Boone County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlandville
  • Fayette
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Clark
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Clark is located in Randolph County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
  • Renick
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Renick is located in Randolph County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renick
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Armstrong
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Armstrong is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
    • Sturgeon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Roanoke
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Roanoke is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roanoke

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

Newspapers Published in Punkin Center ...

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 99 newspapers that have been published in the area around Punkin Center.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Punkin Center, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Punkin Center.

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 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 Punkin Center:

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 Punkin Center, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Punkin Center) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.