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 Rock Prairie (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 Rock Prairie. 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 Rock Prairie ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Rock Prairie: Rock Pr.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Rock Prairie. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Rock Prairie.
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 northeast 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 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.
Rock Prairie is located in 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 Rock Prairie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rock Prairie:
- Polk County (The home county of Rock Prairie)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Prairie, with the one closest to Rock Prairie listed first.
- Tin Town
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Tin Town is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tin Town
- Goodnight
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Pleasant Hope
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Brighton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Halfway
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Halfway is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- Morrisville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Bolivar
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wishart
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Wishart is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishart
- Goodson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Goodson is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodson
- Graydon Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Graydon Springs is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graydon Springs
- Polk
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Polk is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk
- Eudora
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Eudora is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eudora
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Prairie, with the one closest to Rock Prairie listed first.
- Cassidy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cassidy is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassidy
- Fremont Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Fremont Hills is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 936 people
- Pembina
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Pembina is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pembina
- Linden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Linden is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
- Nixa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Nixa is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23,330 people
- Former name for Nixa:
- Faught
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nixa <1>
- Republic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dade County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Prairie, with the one closest to Rock Prairie listed first.
- Dadeville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bona
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bona is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bona
- Corry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Corry is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corry
- Everton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Prairie, with the one closest to Rock Prairie listed first.
- Charity ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Charity is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
- Buffalo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Long Lane
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Long Lane is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Lane
- Louisburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Louisburg is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Windyville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Windyville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windyville
- Urbana
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Tunas
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Tunas is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunas
- Leadmine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Leadmine is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leadmine
- Westfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Westfield is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Prairie, with the one closest to Rock Prairie listed first.
- Fair Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Strafford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Willard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Springfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Walnut Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Langston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Langston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
- Mumford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Mumford is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mumford
- Phenix ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Phenix is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Phenix has also been known as:
- Phenix Quarry
- Turners
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Turners is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turners
- Bois D'Arc
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sequiota
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Sequiota is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sequiota
- Ash Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Hickory County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Prairie, with the one closest to Rock Prairie listed first.
- Pittsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Nemo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Nemo is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemo
- Elkton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Elkton is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Galmey
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Galmey is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galmey
- Laclede County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Prairie, with the one closest to Rock Prairie listed first.
- Conway
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Phillipsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Brush Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Brush Creek is located in Laclede County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Lawrence County
- Halltown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Prairie, with the one closest to Rock Prairie listed first.
- Elkland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Elkland is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkland
- Conklin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Conklin is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin
- Northview
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Northview is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
- Marshfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Crown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Crown is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
- Niangua
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Niangua is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niangua
- Population from the 2020 Census: 424 people
- Rader
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Rader is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rader
- Rogersville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Fordland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Diggins
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Diggins is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diggins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rock Prairie, see our County-by-County Page for Rock Prairie.
Cemeteries Near Rock Prairie ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rock Prairie.
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 Rock Prairie - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rock Prairie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rock Prairie, with the one closest to Rock Prairie listed first.
- Glover Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- New Life Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Case Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Mallard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ankrom Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Tiller Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Viles Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Church Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- New Hope Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Powell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (259 more) ...
- Gorden Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Brighton Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Davidson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
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 Rock Prairie in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rock Prairie.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rock Prairie, with the one closest to Rock Prairie listed first.
- Goodnight
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Redtop
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Redtop is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redtop
- Pleasant Hope
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Schofield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Schofield is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schofield
- Olive
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Olive is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olive
- March
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- March is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for March
- Fair Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sunset is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset
- Brighton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Halfway
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Halfway is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- Hickory Barren
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hickory Barren is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Barren
- Elkland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Elkland is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkland
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Charity ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Charity is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
- Spring Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Grove is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Grove
- Burns
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Burns is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rock Prairie. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rock Prairie.
Newspapers Published in Rock Prairie ...
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 84 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rock Prairie.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rock Prairie, 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 Rock Prairie.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Rock Prairie:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Christian County
- Dade County
- Dallas County
- Greene County
- Hickory County
- Laclede County
- Lawrence County
- Webster 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 Rock Prairie, 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- Rock Prairie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |