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 Richards (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 Richards. 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 Richards ...
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.
While the name of this town is Richards, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Richards may originally have been Richard's.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Richards. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Richards.
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.
Richards is located in Vernon 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 Vernon County: Bourbon (KS), Crawford (KS), Linn (KS), Barton, Bates, Cedar & Saint Clair.
Below are the counties that are near Richards. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Richards:
- Vernon County (The home county of Richards)
- The following are listed by their distance from Richards, with the one closest to Richards listed first.
- Stotesbury
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Stotesbury is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stotesbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17 people
- Temple ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Temple is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temple
- Deerfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Deerfield is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Metz
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Metz is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
- Horton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Horton is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
- Moundville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Nevada
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bronaugh
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Bronaugh is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bronaugh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 231 people
- Walker
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Walker is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Population from the 2020 Census: 253 people
- Milo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Milo is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Harwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Harwood is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 45 people
- Sheldon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bellamy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bellamy is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Barton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Richards, with the one closest to Richards listed first.
- Burgess
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Burgess is located in Barton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
- Estimated population in 2017: 54 people
- Liberal
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Liberal is located in Barton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberal
- Population from the 2020 Census: 702 people
- Irwin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Irwin is located in Barton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
- Mindenmines
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bates County
- The following are listed by their distance from Richards, with the one closest to Richards listed first.
- Hume
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Hume is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hume
- Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
- New Home
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- New Home is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Home
- Rich Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Foster
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Foster is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Worland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Worland is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worland
- Nyhart
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Nyhart is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyhart
- Amoret
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Amoret is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amoret
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Prairie City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Prairie City is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
- Butler
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rockville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rockville is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Amsterdam
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Passaic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Passaic is located in Bates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passaic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32 people
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Richards, with the one closest to Richards listed first.
- Virgil City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Virgil City is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgil City
- El Dorado Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Bourbon County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Richards, with the one closest to Richards listed first.
- Hammond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hammond is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Barnesville ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Barnesville is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Bell Town ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bell Town is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Town
- Fort Scott
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Scott is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Scott
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,648 people
- Fort Scott has also been known as:
- Fort Scott City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fort Scott <2>
- Fulton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Edward
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Edward is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edward
- Garland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Garland is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Godfrey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Godfrey is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godfrey
- Devon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Devon is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devon
- Ronald
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ronald is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ronald
- Marmaton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Marmaton is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marmaton
- Hollister
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hollister is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollister
- Berlin
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Berlin is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Crawford County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Richards, with the one closest to Richards listed first.
- Arcadia
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Arcadia is located in Crawford County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 309 people
- Cato
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cato is located in Crawford County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
- Dry Wood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dry Wood is located in Crawford County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Wood
- Coalvale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Coalvale is located in Crawford County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalvale
- Gross
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Gross is located in Crawford County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gross
- Englevale
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Englevale is located in Crawford County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englevale
- Mulberry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Farlington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Arma
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Arma is located in Crawford County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,412 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Arma <2>
- Breezy Hill ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Breezy Hill is located in Crawford County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breezy Hill
- Curranville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Curranville is located in Crawford County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curranville
- Fox Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Fox Town is located in Crawford County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Town
- Franklin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Franklin is located in Crawford County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Linn County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Richards, with the one closest to Richards listed first.
- Prescott
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Prescott is located in Linn County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Pleasanton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mound City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Critzer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Critzer is located in Linn County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Critzer
- Boicourt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Boicourt is located in Linn County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boicourt
- Blue Mound
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Richards, see our County-by-County Page for Richards.
Cemeteries Near Richards ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Richards.
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 Richards - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Richards covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Richards, with the one closest to Richards listed first.
- Richland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- White Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Turley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Coleman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kaufman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Cox Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- East Liberty Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Miller Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Union Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Deerfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Rinehart Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lath Branch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (201 more) ...
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Temple Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Rhea Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Richards had a population of 100 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Richards had a population of 94 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Richards, with the one closest to Richards listed first.
- Rinehart
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rinehart is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinehart
- Eve
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Eve is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eve
- Deerfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Deerfield is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Temple ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Temple is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temple
- Wolfe ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Wolfe is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfe
- Hammond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hammond is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Ellis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ellis is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
- Metz
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Metz is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
- Fort Scott
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Scott is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Scott
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,648 people
- Fort Scott has also been known as:
- Fort Scott City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fort Scott <2>
- Barnesville ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Barnesville is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Moundville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Nevada
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Horton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Horton is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
- Fulton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Garland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Garland is located in Bourbon County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Richards. See our List of 1890's Communities around Richards.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Richards ...
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 218 newspapers that have been published in the area around Richards.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Richards. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Richards and those printed in the larger area surrounding Richards.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Richards.
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 Richards:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Vernon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barton County
- Bates County
- Cedar County
- Bourbon County
- Crawford County
- Linn County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Missouri
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Richards, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Richards) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |