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 Afton (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 Afton. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Afton is located in Ottawa County.
To see how the shape of Oklahoma's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Ottawa County: Cherokee (KS), McDonald (MO), Newton (MO), Craig & Delaware.
Below are the counties that are near Afton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Afton:
- Ottawa County (The home county of Afton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Narcissa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Narcissa is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narcissa
- Fairland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dotyville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Dotyville is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotyville
- Miami
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Ottawa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ottawa is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottawa
- Wyandotte
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kellyville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Kellyville is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyville
- North Miami
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- North Miami is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Miami
- Population from the 2020 Census: 370 people
- Commerce
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Cardin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lincolnville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lincolnville is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnville
- Quapaw
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Craig County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Bluejacket
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vinita
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Ketchum
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Welch
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Big Cabin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hollow
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hollow is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollow
- Delaware County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Bernice
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Copeland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Copeland is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copeland
- Cleora
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Cleora is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleora
- Dennis
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dennis is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennis
- Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Zena
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Zena is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zena
- Cayuga
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Cayuga is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga
- Dodge
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Dodge is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge
- New Eucha
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- New Eucha is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Eucha
- Jay
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jay is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,533 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jay <1>
- Eucha
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Brush Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brush Creek is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Mayes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Grand Lake Towne
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Grand Lake Towne is located in Mayes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Lake Towne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Disney
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Langley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pensacola
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Pensacola is located in Mayes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pensacola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 125 people
- Spavinaw
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Strang
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hoot Owl
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hoot Owl is located in Mayes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoot Owl
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4 people
- Adair
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wickliffe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Wickliffe is located in Mayes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wickliffe
- Salina
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Pump Back
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pump Back is located in Mayes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pump Back
- Nowata County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Sanders
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Sanders is located in Nowata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanders
- New Alluwe
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- New Alluwe is located in Nowata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Alluwe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
- Rogers County
- Chelsea
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Benton County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Maysville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Maysville is located in Benton County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Rome City ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rome City is located in Benton County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome City
- Cherokee County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Treece
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Treece is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Treece
- Estimated population in 2012: 136 people
- Keelville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Keelville is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keelville
- Mill Rose
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Mill Rose is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Rose
- Cravensville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Cravensville is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cravensville
- Commonwealth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Commonwealth is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commonwealth
- Baxter Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Baxter Junction is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter Junction
- Baxter Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Faulkner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Faulkner is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
- Lowell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lowell is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Lowell has also been known as:
- Lowell Station
- Neutral
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Neutral is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neutral
- Neutral has also been known as:
- Neutral City
- Riverton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Labette County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Chetopa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bartlett
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bartlett is located in Labette County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartlett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- McDonald County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Tiff City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Tiff City is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiff City
- South West City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- May
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- May is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May
- Anderson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ginger Blue
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ginger Blue is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ginger Blue
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Noel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Noel is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,808 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Noel <1>
- Lanagan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Goodman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Newton County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Seneca
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Racine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Racine is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racine
- Loma Linda
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Loma Linda is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loma Linda
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Afton, see our County-by-County Page for Afton.
Cemeteries Near Afton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Afton.
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 Afton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Afton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Sixkiller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ballard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Wallen Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Fairland Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Eastern State Hospital Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- McLaughlin Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Rolston Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hickory Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Bluejacket Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Sulphur Bend Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Nidiffer Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (151 more) ...
- Fairview Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Buzzard Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hudson Creek Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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.<2>
While we didn't find Afton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Afton.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Tiff City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Tiff City is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiff City
- Hart
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Hart is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hart
- Rogers
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rogers is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers
- South West City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Seneca
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Coy
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Coy is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coy
- Keelville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Keelville is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keelville
- Mill Rose
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Mill Rose is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Rose
- Chetopa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Saratoga
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Saratoga is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Baxter Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Splitlog
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Splitlog is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Splitlog
- Continue List (11 more) ...
- Racine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Racine is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racine
- Maysville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Maysville is located in Benton County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Noel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Noel is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,808 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Noel <1>
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Afton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Afton.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Afton ...
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 121 newspapers that have been published in the area around Afton.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Afton. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Afton and those printed in the larger area surrounding Afton.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Afton.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Afton:
- Websites specific to Oklahoma
- Pages specific to Ottawa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Craig County
- Delaware County
- Mayes County
- Nowata County
- Rogers County
- Benton County
- Cherokee County
- Labette County
- McDonald County
- Newton County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Oklahoma
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 Afton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Afton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |