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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 Line (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 Line. 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 Line ...

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 Line: W. Line

You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Line. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Line.

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 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.

West Line is located in Cass 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 Cass County: Johnson (KS), Miami (KS), Bates, Henry, Jackson & Johnson.

Below are the counties that are near West Line. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Line:

  • Cass County     (The home county of West Line)
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Line, with the one closest to West Line listed first.
    • Cleveland
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Freeman
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Lake Annette
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Lake Annette is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Annette
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • Riverview Estates
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • 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
    • Peculiar
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Harrelson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Harrelson is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrelson
    • Main City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Main City is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Main City
    • Harrisonville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Belton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Loch Lloyd
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • 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
    • Coleman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Raymore
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Archie
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Bates County
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Line, with the one closest to West Line listed first.
    • Belvidere
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Belvidere is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvidere
    • Grandview
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Martin City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Martin City is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin City
    • New Santa Fe
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • New Santa Fe is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Santa Fe
    • Greenwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Holmes Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Indian Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Indian Village is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Unity Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Unity Village is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
    • Raytown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Cockrell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Little Blue
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Lake Lotawana
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Lone Jack
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Line, with the one closest to West Line listed first.
    • La Tour
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • La Tour is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Tour
    • Latour
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Kingsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Quick City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Quick City is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quick City
  • Douglas County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Line, with the one closest to West Line listed first.
    • Clearfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Black Jack ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Black Jack is located in Douglas County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Jack
  • Franklin County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Line, with the one closest to West Line listed first.
    • Wellsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Rantoul
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Lane
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lane is located in Franklin County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lane
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
      • Lane has also been known as:
      • Lane City
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lane <1>
    • Peoria
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Johnson County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Line, with the one closest to West Line listed first.
    • Stilwell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Spring Hill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Spring Hill is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,871 people
      • Spring Hill has also been known as:
      • Spring Hill Station
      • Springfield
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spring Hill <1>
    • Overland Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Clare
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Olathe
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Gardner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Gardner is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,370 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gardner <1>
    • Leawood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Lenexa
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Edgerton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Edgerton is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,773 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Edgerton <1>
    • Prairie Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Countryside
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Countryside is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside
    • Mission Hills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Mission Hills is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,533 people
    • Fairway
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Fairway is located in Johnson County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,963 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fairway <1>
  • Linn County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Line, with the one closest to West Line listed first.
    • Linn Valley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • La Cygne
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Boicourt
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Cadmus
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Parker
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Parker is located in Linn County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
  • Miami County (KS)
  • Wyandotte County (KS)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Line, see our County-by-County Page for West Line.

Cemeteries Near West Line ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Line.

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 Line - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Line covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Line, with the one closest to West Line listed first.

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 West Line had a population of 178 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, West Line had a population of 108 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from West Line, with the one closest to West Line listed first.

  • Freeman
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Lisle
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Lisle is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisle
  • Louisburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Louisburg is located in Miami County (KS)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisburg
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,590 people
    • Former name for Louisburg:
    • New Saint Lewis
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Louisburg <1>
  • Wea
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Jaudon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Jaudon is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaudon
  • Drexel
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Peculiar
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Bucyrus
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Somerset
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Stilwell
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Harrelson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Harrelson is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrelson
  • Chiles
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (20 more) ...
    • Main City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Main City is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Main City
    • Wagstaff
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Wagstaff is located in Miami County (KS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wagstaff
    • Everett
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Everett is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everett

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Line. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Line.

Newspapers Published in West Line ...

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 82 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Line.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Line, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Line.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 West Line:

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>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 Line) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 West Line, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.