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 West Aurora (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 West Aurora. 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 West Aurora ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Aurora: W. Aurora
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Aurora. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Aurora.
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.
West Aurora is located in Miller 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 Miller County: Camden, Cole, Maries, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage & Pulaski.
Below are the counties that are near West Aurora. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Aurora:
- Miller County (The home county of West Aurora)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Aurora, with the one closest to West Aurora listed first.
- Aurora Springs
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Aurora Springs is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora Springs
- Eldon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Mount
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Mount is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mount
- Bagnell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lakeland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lakeland is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeland
- Etterville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Etterville is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etterville
- Olean
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Olean is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olean
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Lakeside
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Lakeside is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
- Lakeview
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Lakeview is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Tuscumbia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Marys Home
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Marys Home is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marys Home
- Kaiser
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Benton County
- Zora
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Zora is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zora
- Boone County
- Hartsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Callaway County
- Cedar City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar City is located in Callaway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar City
- Camden County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Aurora, with the one closest to West Aurora listed first.
- Lake Ozark
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Shawnee Bend
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Shawnee Bend is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawnee Bend
- Four Seasons
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Four Seasons is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Seasons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,309 people
- Four Seasons has also been known as:
- Village of Four Seasons
- Osage Beach
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sunrise Beach
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Damsel
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Damsel is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damsel
- Old Linn Creek ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Old Linn Creek is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Linn Creek
- Linn Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Camdenton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Montreal
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Barnumton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Barnumton is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnumton
- Roach
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cole County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Aurora, with the one closest to West Aurora listed first.
- Eugene
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Decatur
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Decatur is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur
- Hickory Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Hill is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
- Henley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Henley is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henley
- Russellville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Teal ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Teal is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teal
- Saint Thomas
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Saint Thomas is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Thomas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Lohman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Centertown
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Martins
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Martins is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Martins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,204 people
- Scruggs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Scruggs is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scruggs
- Wardsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wardsville is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wardsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,570 people
- Maries County
- Brinktown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Brinktown is located in Maries County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinktown
- Moniteau County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Aurora, with the one closest to West Aurora listed first.
- High Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- High Point is located in Moniteau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Point
- Latham
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Latham is located in Moniteau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latham
- Fortuna
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fortuna is located in Moniteau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fortuna
- California
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- McGirk
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- McGirk is located in Moniteau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGirk
- Clarksburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Clarksburg is located in Moniteau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Tipton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Aurora, with the one closest to West Aurora listed first.
- Barnett
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rocky Mount
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gravois Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Excelsior
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Excelsior is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Laurie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Versailles
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Glensted
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Glensted is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glensted
- Stover
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Florence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Florence is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Syracuse
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Osage County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Aurora, with the one closest to West Aurora listed first.
- Meta
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Folk
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Folk is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folk
- Argyle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Argyle is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
- Koeltztown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Koeltztown is located in Osage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koeltztown
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Aurora, with the one closest to West Aurora listed first.
- Hawkeye
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Hawkeye is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
- Crocker
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Aurora, see our County-by-County Page for West Aurora.
Cemeteries Near West Aurora ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Aurora.
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 West Aurora - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Aurora covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Aurora, with the one closest to West Aurora listed first.
- Artz - Wenzel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dooley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Skinner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Vernon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Eldon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Blue Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Tol - Wood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Vaughn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jukes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kelsay Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Salem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Continue List (245 more) ...
- White Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Riley Lamb Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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>
While we didn't find West Aurora in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Aurora.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Aurora, with the one closest to West Aurora listed first.
- Aurora Springs
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Aurora Springs is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora Springs
- Eldon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Rocky Mount
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rocky Mount is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Mount
- Pleasant Mount
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Mount is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mount
- Bagnell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Barnett
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Olean
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Olean is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olean
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Tuscumbia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Garden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Garden is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Cape Galena ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cape Galena is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cape Galena
- Enon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Enon is located in Moniteau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enon
- High Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- High Point is located in Moniteau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Point
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Marys Home
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Marys Home is located in Miller County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marys Home
- Gravois Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hickory Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Hill is located in Cole County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Aurora. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Aurora.
Newspapers Published in West Aurora ...
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 66 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Aurora.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Aurora, 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 West Aurora.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 West Aurora:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Miller County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Boone County
- Callaway County
- Camden County
- Cole County
- Maries County
- Moniteau County
- Morgan County
- Osage County
- Pulaski 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 West Aurora, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- West Aurora) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |