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 Ralston (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 Ralston. 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.
Ralston 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 Ralston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ralston:
- Douglas County (The home county of Ralston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralston, with the one closest to Ralston listed first.
- Omaha
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Boys Town
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Millard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Irvington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Irvington is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvington
- Home Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Home Park is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Home Park
- Briggs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Briggs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briggs
- Elkhorn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Bennington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Waterloo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- King Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- King Lake is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King Lake
- Elk City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Elk City is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
- Venice
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Venice is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venice
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralston, with the one closest to Ralston listed first.
- Cullom
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Cullom is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullom
- Cedar Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Plattsmouth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Louisville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mynard
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Mynard is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mynard
- South Bend
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Manley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Murray
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Rock Bluff
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Bluff is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Bluff
- Murdock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Weeping Water
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Wabash
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wabash is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabash
- Dodge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralston, with the one closest to Ralston listed first.
- Fremont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Inglewood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Inglewood is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inglewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 314 people
- Fontanelle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fontanelle is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
- Sarpy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralston, with the one closest to Ralston listed first.
- La Vista
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Portal
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Portal is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portal
- Papillion
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Gilmore
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Gilmore is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
- Richfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Avery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Avery is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Chalco
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bellevue
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Springfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- La Platte
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- La Platte is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Platte
- Gretna
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Linoma Beach
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Linoma Beach is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linoma Beach
- Saunders County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralston, with the one closest to Ralston listed first.
- Wann
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Wann is located in Saunders County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wann
- Yutan
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Ashland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Memphis
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Leshara
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mead
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Woodcliff
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Woodcliff is located in Saunders County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodcliff
- Ithaca
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Colon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Swedeburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Swedeburg is located in Saunders County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedeburg
- Wahoo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralston, with the one closest to Ralston listed first.
- Washington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Calhoun
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- De Soto ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- De Soto is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- De Soto has also been known as:
- DeSoto
- Kennard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Blair
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Arlington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Fremont County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralston, with the one closest to Ralston listed first.
- Bartlett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bartlett is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartlett
- McPaul
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- McPaul is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPaul
- Tabor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Thurman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Thurman is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thurman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
- Harrison County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralston, with the one closest to Ralston listed first.
- California Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- California Junction is located in Harrison County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for California Junction
- Missouri Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Modale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Mills County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralston, with the one closest to Ralston listed first.
- Hentons ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hentons is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hentons
- Folsom
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Folsom is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsom
- Pacific City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pacific City is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacific City
- Pacific Junction
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mineola
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Glenwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Mills is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills
- Silver City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Silver City is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Malvern
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hastings
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hastings is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hastings
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Pottawattamie County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ralston, with the one closest to Ralston listed first.
- Carter Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Council Bluffs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chautauqua
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chautauqua is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua
- Crescent
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dumfries
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Dumfries is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumfries
- Honey Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Honey Creek is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
- Weston
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Weston is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- McClelland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Loveland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Loveland is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveland
- Treynor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Treynor is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Treynor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 967 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Treynor <1>
- Pigeon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pigeon is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Underwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ralston, see our County-by-County Page for Ralston.
Cemeteries Near Ralston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ralston.
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 Ralston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ralston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ralston, with the one closest to Ralston listed first.
- Beth El Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Papillion Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Omaha.
- The Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery has also been known as:
- Evergreen Cemetery
- Evergreen Memorial Park
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #245299 <2>
- Ressurection Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Portal Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- St. Mary Magdalene Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Westlawn - Hillcrest Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Calvary Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Omaha.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #100449 <2>
- Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. Mary's Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Mary's Cemetery
- The St. Mary's Cemetery has also been known as:
- Cassidy's Burial Ground
- St. Mary Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #101352 <2>
- Graceland Park Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (215 more) ...
- West Lawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bohemian Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bohemian Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Bohemian Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Omaha.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #100413 <2>
- Cedar Dale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
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 Ralston in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ralston.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ralston, with the one closest to Ralston listed first.
- Portal
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Portal is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portal
- Papillion
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- South Omaha
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- South Omaha is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Omaha
- Omaha
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Gilmore
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Gilmore is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
- Chalco
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Richfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Avery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Avery is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Millard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bellevue
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Irvington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Irvington is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvington
- Springfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Council Bluffs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cullom
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Cullom is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullom
- La Platte
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- La Platte is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Platte
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ralston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ralston.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Ralston ...
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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ralston.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Ralston. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Ralston and those printed in the larger area surrounding Ralston.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Ralston.
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 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 Ralston:
- Websites specific to Nebraska
- Pages specific to Douglas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cass County
- Dodge County
- Sarpy County
- Saunders County
- Washington County
- Fremont County
- Harrison County
- Mills County
- Pottawattamie County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Nebraska
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 Ralston, 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 from Point A (ie- Ralston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |