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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 Elmwood (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 Elmwood. 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 Elmwood ...

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.

Another variation: Elm Wood.

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

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 northeast 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 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.

Elmwood is located in Cass 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 Cass County: Fremont (IA), Mills (IA), Lancaster, Otoe, Sarpy & Saunders.

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

  • Cass County     (The home county of Elmwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmwood, with the one closest to Elmwood listed first.
    • Wabash
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Wabash is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabash
    • Murdock
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Alvo
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Eagle
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Weeping Water
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Manley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Avoca
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • South Bend
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Greenwood
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Louisville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Nehawka
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Cedar Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Murray
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
  • Douglas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmwood, with the one closest to Elmwood listed first.
    • Millard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Venice
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Venice is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venice
    • Elkhorn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Ralston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Boys Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Waterloo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Gage County
    • Adams
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmwood, with the one closest to Elmwood listed first.
    • Cook
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Cook is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cook <1>
    • Sterling
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Saint Mary
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Saint Mary is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Mary
  • Lancaster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmwood, with the one closest to Elmwood listed first.
    • Prairie Home
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Prairie Home is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Home
    • Waverly
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Walton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Bennet
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Cheney
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Cheney is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheney
    • Havelock
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Havelock is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havelock
    • Pine Lake
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Pine Lake is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lake
    • College View
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • College View is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College View
    • Panama
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Arbor
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Arbor is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor
    • Davey
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Davey is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Davey <1>
    • Belmont
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Belmont is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
    • Lincoln
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Lincoln is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 290,505 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lincoln <1>
  • Nemaha County
    • Brock
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Otoe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmwood, with the one closest to Elmwood listed first.
    • Palmyra
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Unadilla
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Otoe
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Syracuse
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Douglas
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Dunbar
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Wyoming
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Wyoming is located in Otoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
    • Burr
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Lorton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Nebraska City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Talmage
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Sarpy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmwood, with the one closest to Elmwood listed first.
    • Linoma Beach
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Linoma Beach is located in Sarpy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linoma Beach
    • Springfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Gretna
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Richfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Chalco
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • La Platte
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • La Platte is located in Sarpy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Platte
    • Papillion
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Portal
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Portal is located in Sarpy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portal
    • Gilmore
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Gilmore is located in Sarpy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • La Vista
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Avery
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Avery is located in Sarpy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
    • Bellevue
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Saunders County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmwood, with the one closest to Elmwood listed first.
    • Ashland
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Memphis
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Wann
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Wann is located in Saunders County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wann
    • Ceresco
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Ithaca
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Swedeburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Swedeburg is located in Saunders County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedeburg
    • Mead
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Mead is located in Saunders County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mead
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 571 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mead <1>
    • Yutan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Yutan is located in Saunders County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yutan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,352 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Yutan <1>
    • Wahoo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Wahoo is located in Saunders County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahoo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,603 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wahoo <1>
  • Fremont County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmwood, with the one closest to Elmwood listed first.
    • McPaul
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • McPaul is located in Fremont County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPaul
    • Percival
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Bartlett
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Bartlett is located in Fremont County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartlett
    • Thurman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Thurman is located in Fremont County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thurman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
    • Payne
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Payne is located in Fremont County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne
  • Mills County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Elmwood, with the one closest to Elmwood listed first.
    • Pacific Junction
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Hentons ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hentons is located in Mills County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hentons
    • Pacific City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Pacific City is located in Mills County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacific City
    • Folsom
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Folsom is located in Mills County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsom
    • Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Mills is located in Mills County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills

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

Cemeteries Near Elmwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elmwood.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Elmwood, with the one closest to Elmwood 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Elmwood had a population of 303 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Elmwood had a population of 659 people.

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

  • Wabash
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Wabash is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabash
  • Murdock
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Alvo
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Eagle
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Weeping Water
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Manley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Avoca
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Palmyra
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Unadilla
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • South Bend
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Greenwood
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Prairie Home
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Prairie Home is located in Lancaster County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Home
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Syracuse
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Waverly
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Walton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Elmwood ...

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 158 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elmwood.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

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

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 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 Elmwood:

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 Elmwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Elmwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.