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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 Crofton (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 Crofton. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.

Crofton is located in Knox County.

To see how the shape of Nebraska's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Knox County: Antelope, Boyd, Cedar, Holt, Pierce, Bon Homme (SD), Charles Mix (SD) & Yankton (SD).

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

  • Knox County     (The home county of Crofton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
    • Bloomfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lindy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Lindy is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindy
    • Tewsville ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Tewsville is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tewsville
    • Wausa
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Santee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Santee is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
    • Center
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bazile Mills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bazile Mills is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bazile Mills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 29 people
    • Creighton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Winnetoon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Niobrara
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Verdigre
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Cedar County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
    • Constance
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Constance is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Constance
    • Fordyce
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Aten
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Aten is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aten
    • Bow Valley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Bow Valley is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow Valley
    • Saint Helena
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Hartington
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Wynot
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Magnet
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Coleridge
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Obert
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Obert is located in Cedar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obert
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22 people
    • Randolph
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Belden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Laurel
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Dixon County
    • Maskell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Maskell is located in Dixon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maskell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
  • Pierce County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
    • McLean
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Osmond
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Breslau
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Breslau is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breslau
    • Plainview
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Wayne County
    • Sholes
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Sholes is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sholes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 20 people
  • Bon Homme County (SD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
    • Tabor
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Tabor is located in Bon Homme County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tabor <1>
    • Springfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Kingsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Kingsburg is located in Bon Homme County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsburg
      • Estimated population in 2014: 697 people
    • Tyndall
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Tyndall is located in Bon Homme County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyndall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,015 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tyndall <1>
    • Perkins
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Perkins is located in Bon Homme County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
    • Scotland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Scotland is located in Bon Homme County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 792 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Scotland <1>
  • Clay County (SD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
    • Meckling
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Wakonda
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Westreville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Westreville is located in Clay County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westreville
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 208 people
    • Vermillion
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Bloomingdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Bloomingdale is located in Clay County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomingdale
  • Turner County (SD)
    • Irene
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Irene is located in Turner County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 403 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Irene <1>
  • Yankton County (SD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
    • Fairview Heights
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Fairview Heights is located in Yankton County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Heights
      • Estimated population in 2014: 77 people
    • Oak Hills Addition
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Oak Hills Addition is located in Yankton County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hills Addition
      • Estimated population in 2014: 23 people
    • Yankton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Yankton is located in Yankton County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yankton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,651 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Yankton <1>
    • Utica
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Utica is located in Yankton County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utica
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Utica <1>
    • Mission Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Gayville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Valleyview
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Valleyview is located in Yankton County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valleyview
    • Lesterville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Volin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Volin is located in Yankton County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Volin <1>
    • Jamesville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Jamesville is located in Yankton County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamesville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 232 people
    • Mayfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Mayfield is located in Yankton County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
      • Estimated population in 2014: 208 people
    • Midway
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Midway is located in Yankton County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway

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

Cemeteries Near Crofton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Crofton.

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

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

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

  • Crofton Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • St. Rose Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Beaver Creek Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Swede Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Frankfort Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Fordyce Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Aten Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Webb Cemetery Devils Nest
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Bloomfield Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Elm Grove Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Yankton Municipal Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (99 more) ...
    • Lake Port Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Hartington Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Garden of Memories Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 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 Crofton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Crofton.

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

  • Constance
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Constance is located in Cedar County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Constance
  • Menominee
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Menominee is located in Cedar County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menominee
  • Aten
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Aten is located in Cedar County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aten
  • Bloomfield
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Yankton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Yankton is located in Yankton County (SD)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yankton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,651 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Yankton <1>
  • Lakeport
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Lakeport is located in Yankton County (SD)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
  • Bow Valley
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Bow Valley is located in Cedar County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow Valley
  • Saint Helena
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Hartington
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Wausa
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Saint James
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Saint James is located in Cedar County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint James
  • Tabor
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Tabor is located in Bon Homme County (SD)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tabor <1>
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Utica
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Utica is located in Yankton County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utica
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Utica <1>
    • Magnet
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Gayville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Crofton ...

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 142 newspapers that have been published in the area around Crofton.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Crofton. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Crofton and those printed in the larger area surrounding Crofton.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Crofton.

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 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 Crofton:

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 Crofton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Crofton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.