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 Bend (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 Bend. 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 Bend ...
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 Bend: W. Bend
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Bend. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Bend.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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 Bend 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 West Bend. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Bend:
- Polk County (The home county of West Bend)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bend, with the one closest to West Bend listed first.
- Morrisville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Graydon Springs
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Graydon Springs is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graydon Springs
- Wishart
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Wishart is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishart
- Eudora
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Eudora is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eudora
- Brighton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Aldrich
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Aldrich is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldrich
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Pleasant Hope
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Bolivar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Goodnight
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- 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
- Fair Play
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Tin Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Tin Town is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tin Town
- Halfway
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Halfway is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bend, with the one closest to West Bend listed first.
- Umber View Heights
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Umber View Heights is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Umber View Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
- Stockton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Caplinger Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Caplinger Mills is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caplinger Mills
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bend, with the one closest to West Bend listed first.
- Republic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Billings
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Clever
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Nixa
(29 miles [46.7 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>
- Cassidy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cassidy is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassidy
- Fremont Hills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fremont Hills is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 936 people
- Dade County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bend, with the one closest to West Bend listed first.
- Dadeville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Bona
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bona is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bona
- Corry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Corry is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corry
- Everton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pilgrim
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Pilgrim is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
- Glen Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Glen Town is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Town
- Greenfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- South Greenfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- South Greenfield is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Greenfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Arcola
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Arcola is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 53 people
- Lockwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Lockwood is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 897 people
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bend, with the one closest to West Bend listed first.
- Buffalo
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Charity ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Charity is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
- Louisburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Louisburg is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bend, with the one closest to West Bend listed first.
- Walnut Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Phenix ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Phenix is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Phenix has also been known as:
- Phenix Quarry
- Willard
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Ash Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bois D'Arc
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Fair Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Springfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Brookline Station
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Brookline Station is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline Station
- Brookline
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Brookline is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline
- Langston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Langston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
- Strafford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Battlefield
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Battlefield is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battlefield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,665 people
- Hickory County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bend, with the one closest to West Bend listed first.
- Elkton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Elkton is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Pittsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Galmey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Galmey is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galmey
- Nemo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Nemo is located in Hickory County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemo
- Weaubleau
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bend, with the one closest to West Bend listed first.
- Halltown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Stinson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stinson is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
- Heatonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Heatonville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heatonville
- Miller
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Round Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Round Grove is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Grove
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bend, with the one closest to West Bend listed first.
- Elkland
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Elkland is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkland
- Conklin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Conklin is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin
- Northview
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Northview is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
- Crown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Crown is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Bend, see our County-by-County Page for West Bend.
Cemeteries Near West Bend ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Bend.
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 Bend - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Bend covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Bend, with the one closest to West Bend listed first.
- Lemmon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Henderson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Turkey Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Green Lawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brighton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Slagle Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slagle Cemetery
- The Slagle Cemetery has also been known as:
- Slagle Baptist Church Cemetery
- Slagle Creek MB Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1984712 <2>
- Hensley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Leeper Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Williamson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cave Spring Memorial Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- King Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (262 more) ...
- Wollard Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hubbard Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Spencer 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 West Bend in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Bend.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Bend, with the one closest to West Bend listed first.
- Morrisville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Graydon Springs
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Graydon Springs is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graydon Springs
- Wishart
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Wishart is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishart
- Buckley ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Buckley is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckley
- Sacville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Sacville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sacville
- Gresham ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gresham is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Walnut Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Orleans ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Orleans is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
- Harold
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Harold is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harold
- Brighton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Slagle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Slagle is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slagle
- Phenix ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Phenix is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Phenix has also been known as:
- Phenix Quarry
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Pearl
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Pearl is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl
- Cave Spring
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Cave Spring is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Spring
- Aldrich
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Aldrich is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldrich
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Bend. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Bend.
Newspapers Published in West Bend ...
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 99 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Bend.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Bend, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Bend.
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 Bend:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cedar County
- Christian County
- Dade County
- Dallas County
- Greene County
- Hickory 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 West Bend, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- West Bend) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |