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 South Omaha (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 South Omaha. 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 South Omaha ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for South Omaha: S. Omaha
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 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.
South Omaha 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 South Omaha. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to South Omaha:
- Douglas County (The home county of South Omaha)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Omaha, with the one closest to South Omaha listed first.
- Ralston
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Omaha
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- 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>
- Home Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Home Park is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Home Park
- Briggs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Briggs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briggs
- Irvington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Irvington is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvington
- Boys Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Millard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bennington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Elkhorn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Waterloo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- King Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- King Lake is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King Lake
- Elk City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Elk City is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
- Venice
(20 miles [32.2 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 South Omaha, with the one closest to South Omaha listed first.
- Cullom
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Cullom is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullom
- Cedar Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Plattsmouth
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Mynard
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Mynard is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mynard
- Louisville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Murray
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Rock Bluff
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Rock Bluff is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Bluff
- South Bend
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Manley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Weeping Water
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Murdock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Nehawka
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Union
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sarpy County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Omaha, with the one closest to South Omaha listed first.
- Avery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Avery is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Gilmore
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Gilmore is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
- Bellevue
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- La Vista
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Papillion
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Portal
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Portal is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portal
- La Platte
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- La Platte is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Platte
- Richfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chalco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Springfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gretna
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Linoma Beach
(21 miles [33.8 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 South Omaha, with the one closest to South Omaha listed first.
- Wann
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Wann is located in Saunders County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wann
- Yutan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Ashland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Leshara
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Memphis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Mead
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Woodcliff
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Woodcliff is located in Saunders County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodcliff
- Ithaca
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Omaha, with the one closest to South Omaha listed first.
- Fort Calhoun
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Washington
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- 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
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Blair
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Arlington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fremont County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Omaha, with the one closest to South Omaha listed first.
- Bartlett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bartlett is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartlett
- Tabor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- McPaul
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- McPaul is located in Fremont County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPaul
- Thurman
(29 miles [46.7 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 South Omaha, with the one closest to South Omaha 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Modale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Yorkshire
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Yorkshire is located in Harrison County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
- Mills County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Omaha, with the one closest to South Omaha listed first.
- Hentons ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hentons is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hentons
- Folsom
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Folsom is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsom
- Mineola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Pacific City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pacific City is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacific City
- Glenwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pacific Junction
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mills is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills
- Silver City
(18 miles [29 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hastings
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Henderson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Clark
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clark is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark
- Pottawattamie County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Omaha, with the one closest to South Omaha listed first.
- Carter Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Council Bluffs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chautauqua
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chautauqua is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua
- Dumfries
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Dumfries is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumfries
- Crescent
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Weston
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Weston is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Honey Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Honey Creek is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
- McClelland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Treynor
(18 miles [29 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
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pigeon is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Underwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Loveland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Loveland is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveland
- Neola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Neola is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 890 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Neola <1>
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to South Omaha, see our County-by-County Page for South Omaha.
Cemeteries Near South Omaha ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Omaha.
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 South Omaha - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for South Omaha covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from South Omaha, with the one closest to South Omaha listed first.
- St. Mary's Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- 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
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Mary Magdalene Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Laurel Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Bohemian Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- 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>
- West Lawn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Westlawn - Hillcrest Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Calvary Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- 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>
- Papillion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (219 more) ...
- Prospect Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- 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
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
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 South Omaha had a population of 8,062 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from South Omaha, with the one closest to South Omaha listed first.
- Avery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Avery is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Gilmore
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Gilmore is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
- Bellevue
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Omaha
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- 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>
- Papillion
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Portal
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Portal is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portal
- Council Bluffs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chalco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Richfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Briggs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Briggs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briggs
- La Platte
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- La Platte is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Platte
- Irvington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Irvington is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvington
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Hentons ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hentons is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hentons
- Millard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Cullom
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Cullom is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullom
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around South Omaha. See our List of 1890's Communities around South Omaha.
Newspapers Published in South Omaha ...
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 189 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Omaha.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Omaha, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for South Omaha.
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 South Omaha:
- Websites specific to Nebraska
- Pages specific to Douglas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cass 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 South Omaha, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- South Omaha) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |