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 Washington (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 Washington. 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 southeast 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 south.
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 south 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.
Washington is located in Washington 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 Washington County: Harrison (IA), Pottawattamie (IA), Burt, Dodge & Douglas.
Below are the counties that are near Washington. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Washington:
- Washington County (The home county of Washington)
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
- Kennard
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Arlington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Blair
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- De Soto ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 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
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Herman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Admah ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Admah is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Admah
- Burt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
- Tekamah
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Craig
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
- Cedar Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Cullom
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cullom is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullom
- Louisville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- South Bend
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Dodge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
- Fontanelle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fontanelle is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
- Fremont
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Telbasta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Telbasta is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Telbasta
- Inglewood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Inglewood is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inglewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 314 people
- Nickerson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Winslow
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ames
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hooper
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Uehling
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Scribner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- North Bend
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
- Bennington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elk City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Elk City is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
- King Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- King Lake is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King Lake
- Waterloo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Elkhorn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Irvington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Irvington is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvington
- Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Briggs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Briggs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briggs
- Boys Town
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Millard
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Omaha
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- 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>
- Venice
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Venice is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venice
- Sarpy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
- Chalco
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Portal
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Portal is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portal
- Gretna
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- La Vista
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Papillion
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Richfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Avery
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Avery is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Gilmore
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Gilmore is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
- Springfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Bellevue
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Linoma Beach
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Linoma Beach is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linoma Beach
- La Platte
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- La Platte is located in Sarpy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Platte
- Saunders County
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
- Leshara
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Yutan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Woodcliff
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Woodcliff is located in Saunders County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodcliff
- Mead
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Wann
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Wann is located in Saunders County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wann
- Cedar Bluffs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Colon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Ithaca
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Memphis
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Wahoo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ashland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Malmo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Harrison County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
- California Junction
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- California Junction is located in Harrison County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for California Junction
- Modale
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Missouri Valley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mondamin
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Magnolia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Magnolia is located in Harrison County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Logan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Logan is located in Harrison County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,403 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Logan <1>
- Orson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Orson is located in Harrison County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orson
- Little Sioux
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Mills County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
- Hentons ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hentons is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hentons
- Folsom
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Folsom is located in Mills County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsom
- Pottawattamie County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
- Carter Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Honey Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Honey Creek is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
- Loveland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Loveland is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveland
- Crescent
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Council Bluffs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Chautauqua
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Chautauqua is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua
- Pigeon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pigeon is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Weston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Weston is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- McClelland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Underwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Dumfries
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dumfries is located in Pottawattamie County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumfries
- Neola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- 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 Washington, see our County-by-County Page for Washington.
Cemeteries Near Washington ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Washington.
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 Washington - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Washington covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
- Prairie View Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Elk City Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- German Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Kennard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Flower Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flower Hill Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Flower Hill Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Omaha.
- The Flower Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
- German Lutheran Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #100642 <2>
- Pioneer Memorial Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Prospect Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Brewster Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewster Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Brewster Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the southwest of Blair.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2280029 <2>
- Colby - Morley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Union Memorial Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Memorial Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Union Memorial Cemetery is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<3> to the north of Omaha.
- The Union Memorial Cemetery has also been known as:
- Noyce Cemetery
- Thomas Cemetery
- Union Memorial / Noyce / Thomas Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2161552 <2>
- Arlington Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (211 more) ...
- Valley Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ft. Calhoun Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
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, Washington had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Washington had a population of 161 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
- Elk City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Elk City is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
- Bennington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kennard
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Waterloo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Arlington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Elkhorn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Irvington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Irvington is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvington
- Orum
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Orum is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orum
- Briggs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Briggs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briggs
- Fort Calhoun
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- De Soto ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 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
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Blair
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Mercer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Mercer is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercer
- Millard
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Washington. See our List of 1890's Communities around Washington.
Newspapers Published in Washington ...
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 174 newspapers that have been published in the area around Washington.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Washington, 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 Washington.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Washington:
- Websites specific to Nebraska
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Burt County
- Cass County
- Dodge County
- Douglas County
- Sarpy County
- Saunders 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> | 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- Washington) 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 Washington, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |