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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 Dawson (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 Dawson. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Dawson is located in Richardson 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 Richardson County: Brown (KS), Doniphan (KS), Nemaha (KS), Holt (MO), Nemaha & Pawnee.

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

  • Richardson County     (The home county of Dawson)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
    • Verdon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Nim City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nim City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nim City
      • Nim City is located in Richardson County
    • Salem
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Humboldt
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Stella
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Straussville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Shubert
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Falls City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Falls City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
      • Falls City is located in Richardson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,076 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Falls City <1>
    • Barada
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Preston
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Preston have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston
      • Preston is located in Richardson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26 people
    • Arago ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Arago. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arago
      • Arago is located in Richardson County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Arago
      • From Dawson to Arago
    • Rulo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rulo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rulo
      • Rulo is located in Richardson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rulo <1>
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
    • Elk Creek
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Graf ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Graf. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graf
      • Graf is located in Johnson County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Graf
      • From Dawson to Graf
    • Tecumseh
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Vesta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Nemaha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
    • Howe
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Nemaha
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Auburn
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Auburn have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
      • Auburn is located in Nemaha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,342 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Auburn <1>
    • Saint Deroin ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Rohrs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Brownville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Johnson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Johnson have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson
      • Johnson is located in Nemaha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Johnson <1>
    • Brock
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Peru
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Julian
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
  • Otoe County
  • Pawnee County
  • Brown County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
    • Morrill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Morrill have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrill
      • Morrill is located in Brown County (KS)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
    • Reserve
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Sun Springs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sun Springs. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Springs
      • Sun Springs is located in Brown County (KS)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Sun Springs
      • From Dawson to Sun Springs
    • Hamlin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hamlin have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
      • Hamlin is located in Brown County (KS)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
      • Hamlin has also been known as:
      • Hamilton
    • Fairview
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Padonia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Hiawatha
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Powhattan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Powhattan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powhattan
      • Powhattan is located in Brown County (KS)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
    • Baker ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Baker. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
      • Baker is located in Brown County (KS)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Baker
      • From Dawson to Baker
  • Doniphan County (KS)
  • Marshall County (KS)
  • Nemaha County (KS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
    • Berwick
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Berwick. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
      • Berwick is located in Nemaha County (KS)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Berwick
      • From Dawson to Berwick
    • Bern
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bern have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bern
      • Bern is located in Nemaha County (KS)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
    • Sabetha
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Central City ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Oneida
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Saint Benedict ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Seneca
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Capioma
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Woodlawn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Woodlawn. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
      • Woodlawn is located in Nemaha County (KS)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Woodlawn
      • From Dawson to Woodlawn
    • Baileyville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Granada
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Kelly
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Atchison County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
    • Phelps City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Phelps City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelps City
      • Phelps City is located in Atchison County (MO)
    • Rock Port
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Watson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Fairfax
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fairfax have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax
      • Fairfax is located in Atchison County (MO)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 568 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fairfax <1>
  • Holt County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
    • Corning
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Corning. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
      • Corning is located in Holt County (MO)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 13 people
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Corning
      • From Dawson to Corning
    • Craig
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Big Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Fortescue
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fortescue have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fortescue
      • Fortescue is located in Holt County (MO)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 28 people
    • Bigelow
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bigelow have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
      • Bigelow is located in Holt County (MO)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people

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

Cemeteries Near Dawson ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dawson.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson 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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Dawson had a population of 153 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Dawson had a population of 135 people.

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

  • Salem
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Verdon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Humboldt
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Stella
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Shubert
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Du Bois
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Bern
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bern have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bern
    • Bern is located in Nemaha County (KS)
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
  • Berwick
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Berwick. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
    • Berwick is located in Nemaha County (KS)
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Berwick
    • From Dawson to Berwick
  • Falls City
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Falls City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
    • Falls City is located in Richardson County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,076 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Falls City <1>
  • Howe
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Barada
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Table Rock
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Sabetha
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Morrill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Morrill have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrill
      • Morrill is located in Brown County (KS)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
    • Nemaha
      (16 miles [25.7 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 Dawson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dawson.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Dawson ...

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 109 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dawson.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Dawson. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Dawson and those printed in the larger area surrounding Dawson.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<5> of Dawson.

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 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 Dawson:

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

The official website for Richardson County: www.co.richardson.ne.us/

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>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.
<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 from Point A (ie- Dawson) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Dawson. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 40.1320, Longitude: -95.8306    
<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 Dawson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025