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 Thornton (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 Thornton. 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 and 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.
Thornton is located in Clay 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 Clay County: Wyandotte (KS), Clinton, Jackson, Platte & Ray.
Below are the counties that are near Thornton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Thornton:
- Clay County (The home county of Thornton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornton, with the one closest to Thornton listed first.
- East Kansas City
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- East Kansas City is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Kansas City
- Randolph
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Randolph is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Woodhill
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Woodhill is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodhill
- Avondale
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Avondale is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
- North Kansas City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Minaville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Minaville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minaville
- Birmingham
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Birmingham is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Claycomo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Claycomo is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claycomo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,526 people
- Gladstone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oaks
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oaks is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaks
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Oakview
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oakview is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 393 people
- Oakwood Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oakwood Park is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornton, with the one closest to Thornton listed first.
- Lee's Summit
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Loch Lloyd
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Loch Lloyd is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loch Lloyd
- Population from the 2020 Census: 835 people
- Loch Lloyd has also been known as:
- Loch Lloyd village
- Belton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lake Winnebago
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lake Winnebago is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Winnebago
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,370 people
- Raymore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Harrelson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Harrelson is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrelson
- Riverview Estates
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Riverview Estates is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview Estates
- Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
- Riverview Estates has also been known as:
- Riverview Estates village
- Coleman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Coleman is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- Baldwin Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Baldwin Park is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Pleasant Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Peculiar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornton, with the one closest to Thornton listed first.
- Lilly
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Lilly is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
- Trimble
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Converse
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Converse is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Converse
- Plattsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lathrop
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornton, with the one closest to Thornton listed first.
- Kansas City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cement City
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cement City is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cement City
- Maywood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Maywood is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Leeds
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Leeds is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
- River Bend
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- River Bend is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Bend
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10 people
- Independence
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Adams
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Adams is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Atherton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Atherton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atherton
- Raytown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Little Blue
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Little Blue is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Blue
- Holmes Park
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Holmes Park is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes Park
- Holmes Park has also been known as:
- Holmes
- Indian Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Indian Village is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Lafayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornton, with the one closest to Thornton listed first.
- Napoleon
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Napoleon is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoleon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
- Bates City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Waterloo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Waterloo is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
- Wellington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Platte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornton, with the one closest to Thornton listed first.
- Northmoor
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Northmoor is located in Platte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northmoor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 362 people
- Houston Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Houston Lake is located in Platte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
- Riverside
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lake Waukomis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Waukomis is located in Platte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Waukomis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 874 people
- Platte Woods
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Platte Woods is located in Platte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platte Woods
- Population from the 2020 Census: 406 people
- Parkville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Weatherby Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Weatherby Lake is located in Platte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weatherby Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,086 people
- Linkville ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Linkville is located in Platte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linkville
- Ferrelview
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Ferrelview is located in Platte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferrelview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 800 people
- Waldron
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Waldron is located in Platte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldron
- Farley
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Farley is located in Platte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 304 people
- Platte City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ray County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornton, with the one closest to Thornton listed first.
- Orrick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Albany
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Albany is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
- Homestead
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Homestead is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homestead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
- Crystal Lakes
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Crystal Lakes is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
- Excelsior Estates
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Excelsior Estates is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior Estates
- Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
- Wood Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Wood Heights is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 700 people
- Woods Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Woods Heights is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Heights
- Fleming
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Fleming is located in Ray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Lawson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Camden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Rayville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Richmond
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Johnson County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornton, with the one closest to Thornton listed first.
- Mission Woods
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mission Woods is located in Johnson County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission Woods
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Westwood Hills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Westwood Hills is located in Johnson County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 390 people
- Westwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Westwood is located in Johnson County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,642 people
- Fairway
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mission Hills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mission Hills is located in Johnson County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,533 people
- Roeland Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Countryside
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Countryside is located in Johnson County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside
- Mission
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mission is located in Johnson County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,873 people
- Former name for Mission:
- Mission Hill Acres
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mission <1>
- Merriam
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Leawood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Lake Quivira
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Quivira is located in Johnson County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Quivira
- Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
- Leavenworth County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornton, with the one closest to Thornton listed first.
- Highland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Highland is located in Leavenworth County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Lansing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lansing is located in Leavenworth County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing
- Population from the 2020 Census: 11,954 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lansing <1>
- Bain City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bain City is located in Leavenworth County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bain City
- Loring
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Loring is located in Leavenworth County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loring
- Basehor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Basehor is located in Leavenworth County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Basehor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,656 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Basehor <1>
- Fairmount
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Fairmount is located in Leavenworth County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Fairmount has also been known as:
- Fairmont Village
- Leavenworth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hoge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hoge is located in Leavenworth County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoge
- Kickapoo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kickapoo is located in Leavenworth County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kickapoo
- Jarbalo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Jarbalo is located in Leavenworth County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarbalo
- Linwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Linwood is located in Leavenworth County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 433 people
- Linwood has also been known as:
- Big Stranger
- Johnny Cake
- Journeycake
- Tonganoxie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wyandotte County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornton, with the one closest to Thornton listed first.
- Kansas City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Quindaro ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Quindaro is located in Wyandotte County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quindaro
- Argentine
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Argentine is located in Wyandotte County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argentine
- Turner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Turner is located in Wyandotte County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner
- Grinter Heights
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Grinter Heights is located in Wyandotte County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grinter Heights
- Morris
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Morris is located in Wyandotte County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris
- Edwardsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Piper
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Piper is located in Wyandotte County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piper
- Bonner Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Wallula
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Wallula is located in Wyandotte County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallula
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Thornton, see our County-by-County Page for Thornton.
Cemeteries Near Thornton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thornton.
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 Thornton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Thornton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Thornton, with the one closest to Thornton listed first.
- Crowley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Roger Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Elmwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sheffield Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Minaville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Minneville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- New Stark Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mt. St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Washington Forever Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Washington Forever Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Washington Forever Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<3> to the west of Independence.
- The Mt. Washington Forever Cemetery has also been known as:
- Mt. Washington Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #30384 <2>
- White Chapel Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (338 more) ...
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Huron Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Huron Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Thornton had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Thornton, with the one closest to Thornton listed first.
- Randolph
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Randolph is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Moscow
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Moscow is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- North Kansas City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Minaville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Minaville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minaville
- Harlem
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harlem is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlem
- Kansas City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Centropolis
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Centropolis is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centropolis
- Mount Washington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Washington is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Washington
- Birmingham
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Birmingham is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Acme
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Acme is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
- Englewood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Englewood is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englewood
- Maywood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Maywood is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Linden
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Linden is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
- Leeds
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Leeds is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
- Kansas City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Thornton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Thornton.
Newspapers Published in Thornton ...
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 124 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thornton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Thornton, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Thornton.
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 helpful 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 Thornton:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Clay County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cass County
- Clinton County
- Jackson County
- Lafayette County
- Platte County
- Ray County
- Johnson County
- Leavenworth County
- Wyandotte 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Thornton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Thornton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |