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 Ralls (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 Ralls. 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 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.
Ralls 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 Ralls. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ralls:
- Ralls County (The home county of Ralls)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralls, with the one closest to Ralls listed first.
- New London
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Saverton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Saverton is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saverton
- Rensselaer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Rensselaer is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rensselaer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Center
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Madisonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Madisonville is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- The Landing
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- The Landing is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Landing
- Shaver Ford ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Shaver Ford is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaver Ford
- Greenlawn
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Greenlawn is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlawn
- Perry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Audrain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralls, with the one closest to Ralls listed first.
- Vandalia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Farber
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Farber is located in Audrain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farber
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralls, with the one closest to Ralls listed first.
- Maywood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Maywood is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Durham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- La Grange
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Weber
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Weber is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Ewing
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gilead
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gilead is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Argola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Argola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argola
- Sellers
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sellers is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralls, with the one closest to Ralls listed first.
- Oakwood
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Oakwood is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Hannibal
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Cave City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cave City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave City
- Helton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Helton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Dodge City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dodge City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Palmyra
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Taylor
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Philadelphia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Philadelphia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Nelsonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Nelsonville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralls, with the one closest to Ralls listed first.
- Monroe City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Florida
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Stoutsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- North Fork
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- North Fork is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralls, with the one closest to Ralls listed first.
- Frankford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Ashburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ashburn is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashburn
- Population from the 2010 Census: 52 people
- Curryville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Curryville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curryville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Louisiana
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tarrants
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Tarrants is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarrants
- Population from the 2010 Census: 22 people
- New Harmony
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- New Harmony is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Harmony
- Bowling Green
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralls, with the one closest to Ralls listed first.
- Hunnewell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Hunnewell is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunnewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Emden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Emden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
- Kendall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Kendall is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Lakenan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Lakenan is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakenan
- Adams County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralls, with the one closest to Ralls listed first.
- Fall Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fall Creek is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- Marblehead
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Marblehead is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marblehead
- Payson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Plainville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Adams
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Adams is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Quincy
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Burton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Burton is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
- Ewbanks
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ewbanks is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewbanks
- Liberty
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Beverly
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Beverly is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Fowler
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Columbus
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Columbus is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Pike County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralls, with the one closest to Ralls listed first.
- Shepherd
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Shepherd is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepherd
- Spencer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Spencer is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
- Hull
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Kinderhook
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- New Canton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- New Canton is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Canton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
- Barry
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- El Dara
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Hadley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Hadley is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadley
- Rockport
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Pike
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Pike is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pike
- Atlas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Atlas is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Baylis
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ralls, see our County-by-County Page for Ralls.
Cemeteries Near Ralls ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ralls.
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 Ralls - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ralls covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ralls, with the one closest to Ralls listed first.
- Grand View Burial Park
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View Burial Park
- The Grand View Burial Park has also been known as:
- Grandview Burial Park
- Hope Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Robinson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Head Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Dimmitt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Brinkmeier Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Bear Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Nelson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Minoi - Sandiage Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Olivet Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (311 more) ...
- Riverside Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Rush Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Flint Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
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>
While we didn't find Ralls in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ralls.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ralls, with the one closest to Ralls listed first.
- Oakwood
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Oakwood is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Hannibal
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Aladdin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Aladdin is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin
- Shepherd
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Shepherd is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepherd
- East Hannibal
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Hannibal is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hannibal
- Withers Mill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Withers Mill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withers Mill
- New London
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Barkley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Barkley is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barkley
- Helton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Helton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Saverton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Saverton is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saverton
- Rensselaer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Rensselaer is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rensselaer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Salt River
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Salt River is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salt River
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Seehorn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Seehorn is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seehorn
- Fall Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fall Creek is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- West Ely
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- West Ely is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ely
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ralls. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ralls.
Newspapers Published in Ralls ...
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 50 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ralls.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ralls, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ralls.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Ralls:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Ralls County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Audrain County
- Lewis County
- Marion County
- Monroe 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> | 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 Ralls, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Ralls) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |