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 Sonora (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 Sonora. 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 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.
Sonora is located in Atchison 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 Atchison County: Fremont (IA), Page (IA), Holt, Nodaway, Nemaha (NE), Otoe (NE) & Richardson (NE).
Below are the counties that are near Sonora. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sonora:
- Atchison County (The home county of Sonora)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Watson
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Watson is located in Atchison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Phelps City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Phelps City is located in Atchison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelps City
- Rock Port
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Farmers City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Farmers City is located in Atchison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmers City
- Tarkio
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Westboro
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Westboro is located in Atchison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Fairfax
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Holt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Corning
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Corning is located in Holt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13 people
- Craig
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Nodaway County
- Elmo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Elmo is located in Nodaway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Fremont County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Hamburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- High Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- High Creek is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Creek
- Payne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Payne is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne
- Riverton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Sidney
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Farragut
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Percival
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Anderson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Anderson is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Thurman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Thurman is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thurman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
- McPaul
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- McPaul is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPaul
- Randolph
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Randolph is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Bartlett
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bartlett is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartlett
- Tabor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Page County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Northboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Northboro is located in Page County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Blanchard
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Blanchard is located in Page County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
- Shenandoah
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Coin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Coin is located in Page County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- College Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- College Springs is located in Page County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Essex
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tarkio City ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tarkio City is located in Page County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarkio City
- Cass County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Union
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Nehawka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Johnson County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Graf ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Graf is located in Johnson County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graf
- Cook
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Cook is located in Johnson County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook
- Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cook <1>
- Elk Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tecumseh
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Nemaha County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Peru
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Brownville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Nemaha
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Nemaha is located in Nemaha County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemaha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Nemaha has also been known as:
- Nemaha City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nemaha <1>
- Julian
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Julian is located in Nemaha County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Julian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Auburn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Howe
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Howe is located in Nemaha County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howe
- Brock
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Saint Deroin ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Saint Deroin is located in Nemaha County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Deroin
- Rohrs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rohrs is located in Nemaha County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rohrs
- Johnson
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Otoe County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Nebraska City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Talmage
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lorton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Wyoming
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wyoming is located in Otoe County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
- Dunbar
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Otoe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Syracuse
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Richardson County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Shubert
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Barada
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Barada is located in Richardson County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barada
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22 people
- Stella
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Verdon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Arago ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Arago is located in Richardson County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arago
- Dawson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Straussville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Straussville is located in Richardson County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straussville
- Humboldt
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Salem
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Salem is located in Richardson County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Salem <1>
- Falls City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sonora, see our County-by-County Page for Sonora.
Cemeteries Near Sonora ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sonora.
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 Sonora - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sonora covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Sonora Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mt. Vernon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Vernon Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Vernon Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Peru (NE).
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #101020 <2>
- Addington Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- High Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Stoner Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Walnut Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Linden Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Beehive Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- London Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Millsap Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hamburg Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (199 more) ...
- Highland Baptist Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Highland Ridge Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
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 Sonora in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sonora.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sonora, with the one closest to Sonora listed first.
- Watson
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Watson is located in Atchison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Peru
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Brownville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Phelps City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Phelps City is located in Atchison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelps City
- Hamburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Rock Port
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Minersville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Minersville is located in Otoe County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minersville
- Nemaha
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Nemaha is located in Nemaha County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemaha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Nemaha has also been known as:
- Nemaha City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nemaha <1>
- Langdon ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Langdon is located in Atchison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langdon
- Julian
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Julian is located in Nemaha County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Julian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Glenrock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Glenrock is located in Nemaha County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenrock
- Auburn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Payne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Payne is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne
- High Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- High Creek is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Creek
- Riverton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sonora. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sonora.
Newspapers Published in Sonora ...
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 244 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sonora.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sonora, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sonora.
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 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 Sonora:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Atchison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Holt County
- Nodaway County
- Fremont County
- Page County
- Cass County
- Johnson County
- Nemaha County
- Otoe County
- Richardson 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 Sonora, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Sonora) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |