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 Taos (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 Taos. 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.
Taos is located in Cole 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 Cole County: Boone, Callaway, Miller, Moniteau & Osage.
Below are the counties that are near Taos. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Taos:
- Cole County (The home county of Taos)
- The following are listed by their distance from Taos, with the one closest to Taos listed first.
- Osage City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Osage City is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage City
- Wardsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Wardsville is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wardsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,570 people
- Jefferson City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson City is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41,972 people
- Jefferson City has also been known as:
- Jeff City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jefferson City <1>
- Saint Thomas
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Thomas is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Thomas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Scruggs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Scruggs is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scruggs
- Teal ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Teal is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teal
- Saint Martins
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Martins is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Martins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,204 people
- Lohman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Hickory Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hickory Hill is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
- Henley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Henley is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henley
- Decatur
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Decatur is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur
- Centertown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Taos, with the one closest to Taos listed first.
- Hartsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Oldham
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Oldham is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldham
- Ashland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pierpont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pierpont is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierpont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Callaway County
- The following are listed by their distance from Taos, with the one closest to Taos listed first.
- Cedar City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar City is located in Callaway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar City
- Holts Summit
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Tebbetts
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tebbetts is located in Callaway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tebbetts
- Lake Mykee Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Lake Mykee Town is located in Callaway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Mykee Town
- Estimated population in 2018: 351 people
- Hord ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hord is located in Callaway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hord
- New Bloomfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Folsom
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Folsom is located in Callaway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsom
- Mokane
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Steedman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Steedman is located in Callaway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steedman
- Portland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fulton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Gasconade County
- The following are listed by their distance from Taos, with the one closest to Taos listed first.
- Mount Sterling
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Mount Sterling is located in Gasconade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Morrison
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gasconade
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gasconade is located in Gasconade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gasconade
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Maries County
- The following are listed by their distance from Taos, with the one closest to Taos listed first.
- Vienna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Paydown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Paydown is located in Maries County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paydown
- Belle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Brinktown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Brinktown is located in Maries County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinktown
- Lindell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lindell is located in Maries County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindell
- Lanes Prairie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lanes Prairie is located in Maries County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanes Prairie
- Miller County
- The following are listed by their distance from Taos, with the one closest to Taos listed first.
- Saint Elizabeth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Marys Home
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Marys Home is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marys Home
- Etterville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Etterville is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etterville
- Olean
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Olean is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olean
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Pleasant Mount
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Mount is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mount
- Tuscumbia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Eldon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Aurora Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Aurora Springs is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora Springs
- Iberia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Moniteau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Taos, with the one closest to Taos listed first.
- McGirk
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- McGirk is located in Moniteau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGirk
- California
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- High Point
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- High Point is located in Moniteau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Point
- Jamestown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Montgomery County
- Bluffton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bluffton is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
- Osage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Taos, with the one closest to Taos listed first.
- Folk
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Folk is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folk
- Westphalia
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Loose Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- French Village ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- French Village is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Village
- Bonnots Mill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Linn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Isbell ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Isbell is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isbell
- Koeltztown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Koeltztown is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koeltztown
- Meta
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Argyle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Argyle is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
- Freeburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Freeburg is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 420 people
- Koenig
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Koenig is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koenig
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Taos, see our County-by-County Page for Taos.
Cemeteries Near Taos ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Taos.
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 Taos - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Taos covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Taos, with the one closest to Taos listed first.
- St. Xaviers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- St. Xaviers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Osage City Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wolfrum Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cadet Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Stanislaus Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Immaculate Conception Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Thorp Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Link Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Fairview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson City National Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (273 more) ...
- Woodland - Old City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lamkin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- St. Louis Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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 Taos had a population of 92 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Taos had a population of 1,157 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Taos, with the one closest to Taos listed first.
- Osage City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Osage City is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage City
- Westphalia
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Wardsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Wardsville is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wardsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,570 people
- Loose Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jefferson City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson City is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41,972 people
- Jefferson City has also been known as:
- Jeff City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jefferson City <1>
- Osage Bluff
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Osage Bluff is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage Bluff
- Bonnots Mill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar City is located in Callaway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar City
- Honey Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Honey Creek is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
- Holts Summit
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Cote Sans Dessein ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cote Sans Dessein is located in Callaway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cote Sans Dessein
- Cote Sans Dessein has also been known as:
- Parkersville
- Saint Thomas
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Thomas is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Thomas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Babbtown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Babbtown is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babbtown
- Frankenstein
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Frankenstein is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankenstein
- Effie ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Effie is located in Callaway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Effie
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Taos. See our List of 1890's Communities around Taos.
Newspapers Published in Taos ...
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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around Taos.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Taos, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Taos.
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 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 Taos:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Cole County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Callaway County
- Gasconade County
- Maries County
- Miller County
- Moniteau County
- Montgomery County
- Osage 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 Taos, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Taos) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |