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 West Sonora (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 West Sonora. 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 West Sonora ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Sonora: W. Sonora
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Sonora. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Sonora.
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 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.
West Sonora is located in Preble 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 Preble County: Union (IN), Wayne (IN), Butler, Darke & Montgomery.
Below are the counties that are near West Sonora. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Sonora:
- Preble County (The home county of West Sonora)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Verona
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Euphemia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Euphemia is located in Preble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Euphemia
- Lewisburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- West Manchester
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Eldorado
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Eldorado is located in Preble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Population from the 2020 Census: 490 people
- West Alexandria
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Eaton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- New Hope
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Hope is located in Preble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Ingomar
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Ingomar is located in Preble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingomar
- New Paris
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Gratis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Corvin ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Corvin is located in Preble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corvin
- Lake Lakengren
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Lakengren is located in Preble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Lakengren
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Poast Town Heights
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Poast Town Heights is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poast Town Heights
- Astoria
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Astoria is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astoria
- Somerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Jacksonburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Jacksonburg is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Poast Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Poast Town is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poast Town
- Middletown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Miltonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Miltonville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miltonville
- Seven Mile
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Seven Mile is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Mile
- Population from the 2020 Census: 789 people
- Oxford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Trenton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- South Middletown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- South Middletown is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Middletown
- Contreras
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Contreras is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Contreras
- Overpeck
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Overpeck is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overpeck
- Champaign County
- Christiansburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Park Layne
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Park Layne is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Layne
- Crystal Lakes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Crystal Lakes is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lakes
- New Carlisle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Dodo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Dodo is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodo
- Holiday Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Holiday Valley is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Valley
- Darke County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Ithaca
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Ithaca is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ithaca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Gordon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gordon is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Castine
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Castine is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castine
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Arcanum
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pitsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Savona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Savona is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savona
- Abbottsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Abbottsville is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbottsville
- New Madison
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Jefferson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Jefferson is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Jefferson
- Wayne Lakes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wayne Lakes is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayne Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
- Wayne Lakes has also been known as:
- Wayne Lakes Park
- Poplar Ridge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Poplar Ridge is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Ridge
- Gettysburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Gettysburg is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gettysburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 809 people
- Greenville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Fairborn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Beavercreek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bellbrook
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Miami County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Potsdam
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Potsdam is located in Miami County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potsdam
- Population from the 2020 Census: 295 people
- Garland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Garland is located in Miami County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Laura
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- West Milton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ludlow Falls
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ludlow Falls is located in Miami County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
- Kessler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kessler is located in Miami County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kessler
- Pleasant Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bradford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Ginghamsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ginghamsburg is located in Miami County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ginghamsburg
- Covington
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- West Covington
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- West Covington is located in Miami County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Covington
- Tipp City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Troy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Wengerlawn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Wengerlawn is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wengerlawn
- Arlington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Arlington is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Pyrmont
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pyrmont is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyrmont
- Phillipsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Phillipsburg is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 550 people
- Brookville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Airhill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Airhill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airhill
- Kreitzer Corner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kreitzer Corner is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kreitzer Corner
- Clayton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Englewood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Union
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- New Lebanon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Trotwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Voyager Village West
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Voyager Village West is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voyager Village West
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Riverside
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Riverside is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Russia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Lockington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lockington is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Dawson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dawson is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Franklin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Five Points
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Five Points is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Springboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hunter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hunter is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Kenricksville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kenricksville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenricksville
- Williams County
- Franklin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin is located in Williams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Randolph County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Arba
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Arba is located in Randolph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arba
- Spartanburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Spartanburg is located in Randolph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spartanburg
- Lynn
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lynn is located in Randolph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,006 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lynn <1>
- Haysville Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Haysville Corner is located in Randolph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haysville Corner
- Union City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bloomingport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bloomingport is located in Randolph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomingport
- Rural
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rural is located in Randolph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rural
- Snow Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Snow Hill is located in Randolph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Winchester
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Union County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Goodwins Corner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Goodwins Corner is located in Union County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwins Corner
- West College Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Yankee Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Yankee Town is located in Union County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yankee Town
- Brownsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brownsville is located in Union County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Contreras
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Contreras is located in Union County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Contreras
- Billingsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Billingsville is located in Union County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billingsville
- Wayne County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Whitewater
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Whitewater is located in Wayne County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitewater
- Population from the 2020 Census: 70 people
- Chester
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Chester is located in Wayne County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester
- Richmond
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Spring Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Spring Grove is located in Wayne County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 319 people
- Boston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Fountain City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Webster
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Webster is located in Wayne County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Abington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Abington is located in Wayne County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abington
- Centerville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Williamsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Williamsburg is located in Wayne County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Greens Fork
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Economy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Economy is located in Wayne County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Economy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- Pennville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Pennville is located in Wayne County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Sonora, see our County-by-County Page for West Sonora.
Cemeteries Near West Sonora ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Sonora.
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 West Sonora - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Sonora covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Hunt Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Roselawn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Verona Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona Cemetery
- The Verona Cemetery has also been known as:
- West Baltimore Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #43910 <2>
- Brown Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Ithaca Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Gordon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dry Fork Baptist Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ithaca Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Bachman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wares Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Old Castine Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Castine Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (481 more) ...
- New Castine Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Shiloh Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pyrmont Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyrmont Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Pyrmont Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Pyrmont.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1960146 <2>
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 West Sonora had a population of 169 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Sonora, with the one closest to West Sonora listed first.
- Lewisburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Euphemia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Euphemia is located in Preble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Euphemia
- Ithaca
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Ithaca is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ithaca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Gordon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gordon is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Bachman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Bachman is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bachman
- Wengerlawn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Wengerlawn is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wengerlawn
- West Manchester
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Dodson
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Dodson is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodson
- Castine
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Castine is located in Darke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castine
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Pyrmont
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pyrmont is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyrmont
- Brookville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Arcanum
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Eldorado
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Eldorado is located in Preble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Population from the 2020 Census: 490 people
- Ebenezer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ebenezer is located in Preble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
- Potsdam
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Potsdam is located in Miami County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potsdam
- Population from the 2020 Census: 295 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Sonora. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Sonora.
Newspapers Published in West Sonora ...
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 111 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Sonora.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Sonora, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Sonora.
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 West Sonora:
- Websites specific to Ohio
- Pages specific to Preble County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Champaign County
- Clark County
- Darke County
- Greene County
- Miami County
- Montgomery County
- Shelby County
- Warren County
- Williams County
- Randolph County
- Union County
- Wayne 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> | 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 West Sonora, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- West Sonora) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |