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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 Clarks (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 Clarks. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Clarks is located in Merrick 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 Merrick County: Hall, Hamilton, Howard, Nance, Platte & Polk.

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

  • Merrick County     (The home county of Clarks)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarks, with the one closest to Clarks listed first.
    • Central City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Silver Creek
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hord
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hord. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hord
      • Hord is located in Merrick County
    • Archer
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Chapman
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Palmer
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Worms
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worms
      • Worms is located in Merrick County
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarks, with the one closest to Clarks listed first.
    • Saint Edward
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Boone
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone
      • Boone is located in Boone County
    • Cedar Rapids
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cedar Rapids have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Rapids
      • Cedar Rapids is located in Boone County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 351 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cedar Rapids <1>
    • Vorhees
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Vorhees. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vorhees
      • Vorhees is located in Boone County
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarks, with the one closest to Clarks listed first.
    • Rising City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Surprise
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surprise
      • Surprise is located in Butler County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarks, with the one closest to Clarks listed first.
    • Hordville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Overland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overland
      • Overland is located in Hamilton County
    • Kronborg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kronborg
      • Kronborg is located in Hamilton County
    • Marquette
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hampton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Aurora
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Aurora have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
      • Aurora is located in Hamilton County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,490 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Aurora <1>
    • Phillips
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Howard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarks, with the one closest to Clarks listed first.
    • Cushing
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushing
      • Cushing is located in Howard County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 33 people
    • Saint Libory
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Nance County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarks, with the one closest to Clarks listed first.
    • Fullerton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Krakow
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Krakow
      • Krakow is located in Nance County
    • Genoa
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Belgrade
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Platte County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarks, with the one closest to Clarks listed first.
    • Duncan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Duncan have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
      • Duncan is located in Platte County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 370 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Duncan <1>
    • Monroe
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Monroe have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
      • Monroe is located in Platte County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Monroe <1>
    • Oconee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oconee
      • Oconee is located in Platte County
    • Sheldonville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldonville
      • Sheldonville is located in Platte County
    • Columbus
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Platte Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Platte Center have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platte Center
      • Platte Center is located in Platte County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Platte Center <1>
    • Rosenburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosenburg
      • Rosenburg is located in Platte County
    • Carriage House Estates
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarks, with the one closest to Clarks listed first.
    • Swedehome
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedehome
      • Swedehome is located in Polk County
    • Polk
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Stromsburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Osceola
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Shelby
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
  • York County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clarks, with the one closest to Clarks listed first.
    • Arborville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arborville
      • Arborville is located in York County
    • Benedict
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Bradshaw
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Thayer
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
      • Thayer is located in York County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
    • Gresham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • York
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Waco
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Henderson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Clarks ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clarks.

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 Clarks covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Calvary Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Clarks Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Bureau Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bureau Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Bureau Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 5 miles [8 km]<5> to the southeast of Clarks.
    • The Bureau Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Pierce Chapel Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #100438 <4>
  • Bluff Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Swede Plain Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Laclede Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Beulah Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • St. Lawrence Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Central City Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Fridhem Lutheran Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Polk Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (110 more) ...
    • Swede Home Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Burke Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Lindale Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lindale Cemetery
      • The Lindale Cemetery has also been known as:
      • First Baptist Church of Hardville Cemetery
      • Hordville Baptist Cemetery
      • Swedish Baptist Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #100906 <4>

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Clarks had a population of 512 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Clarks had a population of 345 people.

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

  • Havens
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Havens have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havens
    • Havens is located in Merrick County
  • Swedehome
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedehome
    • Swedehome is located in Polk County
  • Central City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Silver Creek
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Merchiston
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Merchiston have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merchiston
    • Merchiston is located in Nance County
  • Fullerton
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Arborville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arborville
    • Arborville is located in York County
  • Paddock
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Paddock have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paddock
    • Paddock is located in Merrick County
  • Stromsburg
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Archer
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Osceola
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Marquette
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Gardiner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gardiner have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardiner
      • Gardiner is located in Platte County
    • Genoa
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Benedict
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Clarks ...

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 58 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clarks.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Clarks. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Clarks and those printed in the larger area surrounding Clarks.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5> of Clarks.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Clarks:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Clarks. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Nebraska: https://www.nebraska.gov/

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>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.
<3>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.
<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 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Clarks) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Clarks. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.2163, Longitude: -97.8395       In this case, the coordinates for Clarks 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 Clarks, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025