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 Arbor (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 Arbor. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.
Arbor is located in Lancaster County.
To see how the shape of Nebraska's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Lancaster County: Butler, Cass, Gage, Johnson, Otoe, Saline, Saunders & Seward.
Below are the counties that are near Arbor. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Arbor:
- Lancaster County (The home county of Arbor)
- The following are listed by their distance from Arbor, with the one closest to Arbor listed first.
- Belmont
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Havelock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gaslight Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gaslight Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
- Gaslight Village is located in Lancaster County
- West Lincoln
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lincoln
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Davey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Raymond
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie Home
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Waverly
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- College View
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Walton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Emerald
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Malcolm
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arbor, with the one closest to Arbor listed first.
- Dwight
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Loma
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Brainard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ulysses
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bruno
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arbor, with the one closest to Arbor listed first.
- Greenwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Eagle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eagle have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle
- Eagle is located in Cass County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,105 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eagle <2>
- Alvo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alvo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvo
- Alvo is located in Cass County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 138 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alvo <2>
- Elmwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elmwood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
- Elmwood is located in Cass County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 659 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elmwood <2>
- Murdock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Wabash
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- South Bend
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Bend have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bend
- South Bend is located in Cass County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for South Bend <2>
- Manley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Manley have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Manley is located in Cass County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 171 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Manley <2>
- Louisville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Weeping Water
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Weeping Water have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeping Water
- Weeping Water is located in Cass County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,094 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Weeping Water <2>
- Avoca
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Avoca have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Avoca is located in Cass County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 253 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avoca <2>
- Douglas County
- Venice
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arbor, with the one closest to Arbor listed first.
- Cortland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cortland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cortland
- Cortland is located in Gage County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 478 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cortland <2>
- Clatonia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Otoe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arbor, with the one closest to Arbor listed first.
- Palmyra
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Palmyra have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Palmyra is located in Otoe County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 575 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Palmyra <2>
- Douglas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Unadilla
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Unadilla have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unadilla
- Unadilla is located in Otoe County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Unadilla <2>
- Syracuse
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arbor, with the one closest to Arbor listed first.
- Crete
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Dorchester
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sarpy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arbor, with the one closest to Arbor listed first.
- Linoma Beach
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gretna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Saunders County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arbor, with the one closest to Arbor listed first.
- Ceresco
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Valparaiso
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Swedeburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Memphis
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Ithaca
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ashland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ashland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Ashland is located in Saunders County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,724 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ashland <2>
- Weston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Wahoo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Wann
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Malmo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mead
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Colon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Yutan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Seward County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arbor, with the one closest to Arbor listed first.
- Pleasant Dale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Garland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Camden ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Camden. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camden
- Camden is located in Seward County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Camden
- From Arbor to Camden
- Grover
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Milford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Ruby
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ruby. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby
- Ruby is located in Seward County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Ruby
- From Arbor to Ruby
- Seward
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Seward have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seward
- Seward is located in Seward County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,363 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Seward <2>
- Staplehurst
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Goehner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Tamora
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Arbor, see our County-by-County Page for Arbor.
Cemeteries Near Arbor ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Arbor.
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.
If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Arbor covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Arbor, with the one closest to Arbor listed first.
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Calvary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Wyuka Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Fairview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Tothill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Pierce Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Danish Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Nebraska State Penitentiary Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- College View Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Rosehill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Jordan Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (193 more) ...
- Bethlehem Covenant Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- St. Mary and St. Patrick Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Yankee Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
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.<6>
While we didn't find Arbor in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Arbor.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Arbor, with the one closest to Arbor listed first.
- University Place
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for University Place have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Place
- University Place is located in Lancaster County
- West Lincoln
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bethany
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bethany have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
- Bethany is located in Lancaster County
- Havelock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Woodlawn
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Woodlawn have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
- Woodlawn is located in Lancaster County
- Lincoln
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Davey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Raymond
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- College View
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Prairie Home
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Waverly
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Emerald
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Walton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Malcolm
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Ceresco
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Arbor. See our List of 1890's Communities around Arbor.
Newspapers Published in Arbor ...
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 127 newspapers that have been published in the area around Arbor.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Arbor, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Arbor.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Arbor:
- Websites specific to Nebraska
- Pages specific to Lancaster County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Cass County
- Douglas County
- Gage County
- Otoe County
- Saline County
- Sarpy County
- Saunders County
- Seward County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Nebraska
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Arbor. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Lancaster County: www.lancaster.ne.gov/
The official website for State of Nebraska: https://www.nebraska.gov/
Footnotes ...
<1> | The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required. |
<2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
<3> | An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace. |
<4> | 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. |
<5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Arbor) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Arbor. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 40.8933, Longitude: -96.6813 In this case, the coordinates for Arbor have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). |
<6> | 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 Arbor, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |