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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 Oconee (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 Oconee. 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 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.

Oconee is located in Platte 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 Platte County: Boone, Butler, Colfax, Madison, Merrick, Nance & Polk.

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

  • Platte County     (The home county of Oconee)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oconee, with the one closest to Oconee listed first.
    • Sheldonville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Platte Center
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Platte Center have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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 <2>
    • Monroe
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Monroe have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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 <2>
    • Duncan
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Duncan have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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 <2>
    • Columbus
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Carriage House Estates
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Tarnov
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Cornlea
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cornlea have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornlea
      • Cornlea is located in Platte County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
    • Humphrey
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Humphrey have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humphrey
      • Humphrey is located in Platte County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 800 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Humphrey <2>
    • Rosenburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Creston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Lindsay
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oconee, with the one closest to Oconee listed first.
    • Saint Edward
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Vorhees
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • 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.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vorhees
      • Vorhees is located in Boone County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Vorhees
      • From Oconee to Vorhees
    • Boone
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Albion
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Albion have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
      • Albion is located in Boone County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,558 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Albion <2>
  • Butler County
  • Colfax County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oconee, with the one closest to Oconee listed first.
    • Richland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Richland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
      • Richland is located in Colfax County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
    • Leigh
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Schuyler
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Clarkson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clarkson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
      • Clarkson is located in Colfax County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 630 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clarkson <2>
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oconee, with the one closest to Oconee listed first.
    • Newman Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Madison
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Madison have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
      • Madison is located in Madison County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,343 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Madison <2>
    • Kalamazoo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kalamazoo. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalamazoo
      • Kalamazoo is located in Madison County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Kalamazoo
      • From Oconee to Kalamazoo
    • Fairview ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Merrick County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oconee, with the one closest to Oconee listed first.
    • Silver Creek
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Clarks
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clarks have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks
      • Clarks is located in Merrick County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 345 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clarks <2>
  • Nance County
  • Polk County

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

Cemeteries Near Oconee ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oconee.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oconee, with the one closest to Oconee 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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Oconee had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Platte Center
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Platte Center have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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 <2>
  • Monroe
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Monroe have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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 <2>
  • Duncan
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Duncan have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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 <2>
  • Gardiner
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gardiner have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardiner
    • Gardiner is located in Platte County
  • Columbus
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Tarnov
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Genoa
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Silver Creek
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Cornlea
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cornlea have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornlea
    • Cornlea is located in Platte County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
  • Richland
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Richland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
    • Richland is located in Colfax County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
  • Humphrey
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Humphrey have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humphrey
    • Humphrey is located in Platte County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 800 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Humphrey <2>
  • Bellwood
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Havens
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Havens have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havens
      • Havens is located in Merrick County
    • Saint Bernard
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Lindsay
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Oconee ...

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 179 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oconee.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oconee, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oconee.

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 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 Oconee:

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

The official website for Platte County: www.plattecounty.net/

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

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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>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 Oconee, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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 from Point A (ie- Oconee) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Oconee. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.4697, Longitude: -97.5193    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025