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 Ada (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 Ada. 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 and 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.
Ada is located in Hardin County.
To see how the shape of Ohio's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Hardin County: Allen, Auglaize, Hancock, Logan, Marion, Union & Wyandot.
Below are the counties that are near Ada. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ada:
- Hardin County (The home county of Ada)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
- Alger
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Huntersville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Huntersville is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntersville
- McGuffey
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- McGuffey is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGuffey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Dola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Dunkirk
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Jumbo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Jumbo is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Grant
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Grant is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
- Roundhead
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Kenton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- McVitty
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- McVitty is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVitty
- Patterson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Patterson is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Forest
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Allen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
- Harrod
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lafayette
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bluffton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Beaverdam
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Westminster
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Westminster is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westminster
- Cairo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Cairo is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 520 people
- Lima
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- West Cairo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- West Cairo is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Cairo
- Fort Shawnee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Fort Shawnee is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Shawnee
- Estimated population in 2012: 3,643 people
- Elida
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Elida is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elida
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,810 people
- Gomer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Scotts Crossing
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Scotts Crossing is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts Crossing
- Auglaize County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
- Waynesfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Waynesfield is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waynesfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 815 people
- Uniopolis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Uniopolis is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniopolis
- Estimated population in 2016: 220 people
- Cridersville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Johns
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Johns is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Santa Fe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Santa Fe is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Fe
- Wapakoneta
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Buckland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Buckland is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 221 people
- Fryburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Fryburg is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fryburg
- Pusheta Town ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pusheta Town is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pusheta Town
- Moulton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Moulton is located in Auglaize County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
- New Stark
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- New Stark is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Stark
- Cannonsburg ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Cannonsburg is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannonsburg
- Jenera
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Williamstown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Williamstown is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Mount Cory
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Mount Cory is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Cory
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Arlington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rawson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Benton Ridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Benton Ridge is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 289 people
- Mount Blanchard
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Moffitt ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Moffitt is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moffitt
- Lewisburg ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Lewisburg is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
- Findlay
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Henry County
- Deshler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Logan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
- Belle Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Belle Center is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 810 people
- New Richland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- New Richland is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Richland
- Lakeview
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Russells Point
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Huntsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Rushsylvania
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Marl City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Marl City is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marl City
- Bellefontaine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Iron City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Iron City is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Logansville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Logansville is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logansville
- West Mansfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- West Mansfield is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Mansfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 678 people
- Zanesfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
- La Rue
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- La Rue is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Rue
- Population from the 2020 Census: 711 people
- New Bloomington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Bloomington is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Bloomington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 511 people
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
- Pandora
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pandora is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pandora
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,101 people
- Columbus Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gilboa
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Gilboa is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilboa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Ottawa
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jones City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Jones City is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones City
- Rimer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Rimer is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rimer
- Glandorf
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Townwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Townwood is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Townwood
- Leipsic Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Leipsic Junction is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leipsic Junction
- Leipsic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Kalida
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- West Leipsic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- West Leipsic is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leipsic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
- Seneca County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
- Alvada
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Alvada is located in Seneca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvada
- Adrian
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
- Jackson Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Montra
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Montra is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montra
- Botkins
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Maplewood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Maplewood is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maplewood
- Van Wert County
- Converse
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Converse is located in Van Wert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Converse
- Wood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
- Hoytville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hoytville is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoytville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 318 people
- North Baltimore
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bairdstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bairdstown is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bairdstown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 136 people
- Wyandot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
- Wharton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Wharton is located in Wyandot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wharton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
- Kirby
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Marseilles
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Marseilles is located in Wyandot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marseilles
- Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
- Carey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Upper Sandusky
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Upper Sandusky is located in Wyandot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Sandusky
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,436 people
- Harpster
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ada, see our County-by-County Page for Ada.
Cemeteries Near Ada ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ada.
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 Ada - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ada covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- McClure Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Maysville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Preston Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- McElroy Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Candler Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Shadley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Huntersville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Evick Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Desenburg Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (440 more) ...
- Ridge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Fisher Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Ada had a population of 2,079 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Ada had a population of 5,532 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ada, with the one closest to Ada listed first.
- Alger
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- McGuffey
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- McGuffey is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGuffey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Harrod
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Stark
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- New Stark is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Stark
- Hassan ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hassan is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hassan
- Lafayette
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Foraker
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Foraker is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foraker
- West Newton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- West Newton is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Newton
- Westminster
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Westminster is located in Allen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westminster
- Bluffton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dunkirk
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cordelia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cordelia is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordelia
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Beaverdam
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Williamstown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Williamstown is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Jenera
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ada. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ada.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Ada ...
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 85 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ada.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Ada. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Ada and those printed in the larger area surrounding Ada.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3> of Ada.
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 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 Ada:
- Websites specific to Ohio
- Pages specific to Hardin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allen County
- Auglaize County
- Hancock County
- Henry County
- Logan County
- Marion County
- Putnam County
- Seneca County
- Shelby County
- Van Wert County
- Wood County
- Wyandot County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Ohio
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> | 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 Ada, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Ada) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |