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 Peoria (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 Peoria. 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.
Peoria 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 Peoria. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Peoria:
- Ottawa County (The home county of Peoria)
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Lincolnville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lincolnville is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnville
- Ottawa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ottawa is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottawa
- Quapaw
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hockerville ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hockerville is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hockerville
- Wyandotte
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Picher ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Kellyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Kellyville is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyville
- Cardin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Commerce
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Miami
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- North Miami
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- North Miami is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Miami
- Population from the 2020 Census: 370 people
- Dotyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Dotyville is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotyville
- Craig County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Bluejacket
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Welch
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Delaware County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Cayuga
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Cayuga is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga
- Copeland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Copeland is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copeland
- Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Dodge
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Dodge is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge
- Bernice
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cleora
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cleora is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleora
- Dennis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dennis is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennis
- Zena
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Zena is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zena
- Cherokee County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Commonwealth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Commonwealth is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commonwealth
- Baxter Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Baxter Junction is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter Junction
- Baxter Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lowell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Lowell is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Lowell has also been known as:
- Lowell Station
- South Galena
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- South Galena is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Galena
- East Galena
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- East Galena is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galena
- Galena
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Riverton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Treece
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Treece is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Treece
- Estimated population in 2012: 136 people
- Empire City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Empire City is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire City
- Cravensville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cravensville is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cravensville
- Neutral
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Neutral is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neutral
- Neutral has also been known as:
- Neutral City
- Crawford County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Opolis
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Opolis is located in Crawford County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Opolis
- Cherokee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Labette County (KS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Chetopa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Oswego
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jasper County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Central City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Central City is located in Jasper County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Iron Gates
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Iron Gates is located in Jasper County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gates
- West Joplin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- West Joplin is located in Jasper County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Joplin
- Joplin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rex City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rex City is located in Jasper County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rex City
- Duquesne
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Duquesne is located in Jasper County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duquesne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,689 people
- East Joplin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- East Joplin is located in Jasper County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Joplin
- Lone Elm
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lone Elm is located in Jasper County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Elm
- Klondike
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Klondike is located in Jasper County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
- Smithfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Smithfield is located in Jasper County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithfield
- Airport Drive
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Airport Drive is located in Jasper County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airport Drive
- Population from the 2020 Census: 862 people
- Oakland Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland Park is located in Jasper County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Park
- McDonald County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- May
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- May is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May
- Tiff City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Tiff City is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiff City
- Goodman
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Erie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Erie is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Anderson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lanagan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ginger Blue
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ginger Blue is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ginger Blue
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Wylie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wylie is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylie
- Noel
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- 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>
- South West City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Pineville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Newton County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Loma Linda
(6 miles [9.7 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
- Seneca
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Racine
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Racine is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racine
- Spring City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Spring City is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring City
- Grand Falls Plaza
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Falls Plaza is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Falls Plaza
- Population from the 2020 Census: 112 people
- Cliff Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cliff Village is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliff Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39 people
- Redings Mill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Redings Mill is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redings Mill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 150 people
- Shoal Creek Drive
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shoal Creek Drive is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Creek Drive
- Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
- Dennis Acres
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dennis Acres is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennis Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Leawood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Leawood is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leawood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 678 people
- Shoal Creek Estates
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shoal Creek Estates is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Creek Estates
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Saginaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Saginaw is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Peoria, see our County-by-County Page for Peoria.
Cemeteries Near Peoria ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Peoria.
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 Peoria - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Peoria covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Burson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Peoria Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Newman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Seneca Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Gibson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Indian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pence Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sparling Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Peery Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Buzzard Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hornet Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lowell Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (212 more) ...
- Bland Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wyandotte Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Burkhart Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
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 Peoria in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Peoria.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Seneca
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hornet
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hornet is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornet
- Racine
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Racine is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racine
- Baxter Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lowell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Lowell is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Lowell has also been known as:
- Lowell Station
- Spurgeon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Spurgeon is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurgeon
- Galena
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hart
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Hart is located in McDonald County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hart
- Belfast
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Belfast is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfast
- Empire City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Empire City is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire City
- Saginaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Saginaw is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- Blendville ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Blendville is located in Jasper County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blendville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- West Joplin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- West Joplin is located in Jasper County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Joplin
- Tipton Ford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Tipton Ford is located in Newton County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton Ford
- Neutral
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Neutral is located in Cherokee County (KS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neutral
- Neutral has also been known as:
- Neutral City
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Peoria. See our List of 1890's Communities around Peoria.
Newspapers Published in Peoria ...
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 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around Peoria.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Peoria, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Peoria.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Peoria:
- Websites specific to Oklahoma
- Pages specific to Ottawa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Craig County
- Delaware County
- Cherokee County
- Crawford County
- Labette County
- Jasper 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 Peoria, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Peoria) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |