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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 Fort Sill (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 Fort Sill. 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 Fort Sill ...

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 have occurred.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Fort Sill: Ft. Sill

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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.

Fort Sill is located in Comanche County.

To see how the shape of Oklahoma's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Comanche County: Caddo, Cotton, Grady, Kiowa, Stephens & Tillman.

Below are the counties that are near Fort Sill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Fort Sill:

  • Comanche County     (The home county of Fort Sill)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fort Sill, with the one closest to Fort Sill listed first.
    • Artillery Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Artillery Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artillery Village
      • Artillery Village is located in Comanche County
    • Lawton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Richards Spur ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Medicine Park
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Medicine Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medicine Park
      • Medicine Park is located in Comanche County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 461 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Medicine Park <2>
    • Lakeside Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lakeside Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside Village
      • Lakeside Village is located in Comanche County
    • Elgin
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elgin have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
      • Elgin is located in Comanche County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,236 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elgin <2>
    • The Holy City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for The Holy City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Holy City
      • The Holy City is located in Comanche County
    • Meers
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Geronimo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Geronimo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geronimo
      • Geronimo is located in Comanche County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,225 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Geronimo <2>
    • Pumpkin Center ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Cache
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cache have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cache
      • Cache is located in Comanche County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,824 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cache <2>
    • Bethel
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Fletcher
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Caddo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fort Sill, with the one closest to Fort Sill listed first.
    • Apache
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Cyril
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cyril have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cyril
      • Cyril is located in Caddo County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,002 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cyril <2>
    • Cement
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cement have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cement
      • Cement is located in Caddo County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 471 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cement <2>
    • Indian City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Indian City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian City
      • Indian City is located in Caddo County
    • Anadarko
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Fort Cobb
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Washita
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Cotton County
  • Grady County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fort Sill, with the one closest to Fort Sill listed first.
    • Rush Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rush Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rush Springs
      • Rush Springs is located in Grady County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,252 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rush Springs <2>
    • Agawam
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Agawam. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agawam
      • Agawam is located in Grady County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Agawam
      • From Fort Sill to Agawam
  • Kiowa County
  • Stephens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fort Sill, with the one closest to Fort Sill listed first.
    • Central High
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Central High have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central High
      • Central High is located in Stephens County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,171 people
    • Oil City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oil City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
      • Oil City is located in Stephens County
    • Empire City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Empire City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire City
      • Empire City is located in Stephens County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 889 people
    • Gas City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gas City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gas City
      • Gas City is located in Stephens County
    • Marlow
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Duncan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Meridian
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Meridian have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
      • Meridian is located in Stephens County

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Fort Sill, see our County-by-County Page for Fort Sill.

Cemeteries Near Fort Sill ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fort Sill.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Fort Sill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Fort Sill, with the one closest to Fort Sill listed first.

  • Ft. Sill Post Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ft. Sill Post Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ft. Sill Post Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Indian Agency Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Indian Agency Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Indian Agency Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Highland Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Chief Chihuahua Apache Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Chief Chihuahua Apache Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Chief Chihuahua Apache Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Bailtso Apache South Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bailtso Apache South Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bailtso Apache South Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Beef Creek Apache Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Beef Creek Apache Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Beef Creek Apache Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Otipoby Comanche Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Otipoby Comanche Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Otipoby Comanche Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Sunset Memorial Gardens
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Flower Mound Community Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Flower Mound Community Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Flower Mound Community Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Ft. Sill National Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ft. Sill National Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ft. Sill National Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Deyo Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Deyo Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Deyo Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Paradise Valley Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Paradise Valley Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Paradise Valley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (77 more) ...
    • Mt. Scott Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Scott Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Scott Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Mountain Scott Tribal Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mountain Scott Tribal Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mountain Scott Tribal Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Mt. Scott Tribal Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Scott Tribal Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Scott Tribal Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Fort Sill had a post office and no railroad service.

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Fort Sill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Fort Sill.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Fort Sill ...

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 171 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fort Sill.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Fort Sill. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Fort Sill and those printed in the larger area surrounding Fort Sill.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<6> of Fort Sill.

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 Fort Sill:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Fort Sill. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Oklahoma: https://www.ok.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>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 Fort Sill, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Fort Sill) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Fort Sill. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 34.6664, Longitude: -98.4046    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025