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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 Mercer (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 Mercer. 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 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.

Mercer is located in Douglas 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 Douglas County: Pottawattamie (IA), Dodge, Sarpy, Saunders & Washington.

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

  • Douglas County     (The home county of Mercer)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
    • Valley
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • King Lake
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • King Lake is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King Lake
    • Elk City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Elk City is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
    • Waterloo
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Venice
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Venice is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venice
    • Elkhorn
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Bennington
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Boys Town
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Millard
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Irvington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Irvington is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvington
    • Briggs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Briggs is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briggs
    • Omaha
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Omaha is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 478,393 people
      • Omaha has also been known as:
      • Omaha City
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Omaha <1>
  • Burt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
    • Craig
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Tekamah
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
    • Linwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Abie
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Nimburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Nimburg is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nimburg
    • Bruno
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
    • South Bend
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Greenwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Cedar Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Louisville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Cullom
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Cullom is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullom
  • Colfax County
    • Rogers
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Rogers is located in Colfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
  • Dodge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
    • Inglewood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Inglewood is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inglewood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 314 people
    • Fremont
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Fontanelle
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Fontanelle is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
    • Nickerson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Ames
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Telbasta
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Telbasta is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Telbasta
    • Winslow
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Hooper
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • North Bend
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Scribner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Webster
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Webster is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
    • Uehling
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
  • Lancaster County
    • Davey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
  • Sarpy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
    • Gretna
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Chalco
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Linoma Beach
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Linoma Beach is located in Sarpy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linoma Beach
    • Portal
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Portal is located in Sarpy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portal
    • La Vista
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Papillion
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Richfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Springfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Avery
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Avery is located in Sarpy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
    • Gilmore
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Gilmore is located in Sarpy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Bellevue
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Saunders County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
    • Woodcliff
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Woodcliff is located in Saunders County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodcliff
    • Leshara
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Yutan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Cedar Bluffs
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Mead
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Colon
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ithaca
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Wahoo
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Wann
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Wann is located in Saunders County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wann
    • Malmo
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Morse Bluff
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Memphis
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
    • Arlington
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Washington
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Kennard
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Blair
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Blair is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,948 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Blair <1>
    • Admah ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Admah is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Admah
    • De Soto ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • De Soto is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
      • De Soto has also been known as:
      • DeSoto
    • Fort Calhoun
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Herman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
  • Harrison County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
    • California Junction
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • California Junction is located in Harrison County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for California Junction
    • Modale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Modale is located in Harrison County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 264 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Modale <1>
    • Missouri Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Pottawattamie County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer listed first.
    • Carter Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Carter Lake is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carter Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,793 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Carter Lake <1>
    • Council Bluffs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Crescent
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Crescent is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 618 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Crescent <1>
    • Honey Creek
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Honey Creek is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
    • Loveland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Loveland is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveland

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

Cemeteries Near Mercer ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mercer.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mercer, with the one closest to Mercer 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Mercer had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Valley
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Fremont
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Arlington
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Elk City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Elk City is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
  • Yutan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • 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>
  • Waterloo
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Cedar Bluffs
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Colon
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Mead
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • 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>
  • Fontanelle
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Fontanelle is located in Dodge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
  • Nickerson
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Washington
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Ames
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Elkhorn
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Bennington
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Mercer ...

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 98 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mercer.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mercer, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mercer.

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 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 Mercer:

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