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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 Adair (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 Adair. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.

Adair is primarily located in Guthrie County. A portion of Adair extends into Adair County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Guthrie County: Adair, Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Dallas, Greene & Madison.

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

  • Guthrie County     (The home county of Adair)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Adair, with the one closest to Adair listed first.
    • Casey
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • North Branch
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • North Branch is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Branch
    • Menlo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Glendon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Glendon is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendon
    • Guthrie Center
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Stuart
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Dale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Dale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
    • Panora
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Bayard
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Yale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Yale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
    • Bagley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bagley is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
    • Herndon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Herndon is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
  • Adair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Adair, with the one closest to Adair listed first.
    • Fontanelle
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Fontanelle is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 612 people
    • Greenfield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bridgewater
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Arbor Hill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
    • Gilead
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Gilead is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
    • Orient
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Stanzel
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Stanzel is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanzel
    • Hebron
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Hebron is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
    • Zion
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Zion is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
  • Adams County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Adair, with the one closest to Adair listed first.
    • Williamson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Williamson is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson
    • Carl
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Carl is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
    • Mount Etna
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Mount Etna is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Etna
    • Lincoln Center
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lincoln Center is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Center
  • Audubon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Adair, with the one closest to Adair listed first.
    • Exira
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Brayton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Hamlin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hamlin is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
    • Audubon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Ross
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Ross is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
    • Kimballton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Fiscus
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Fiscus is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiscus
    • Gray
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Adair, with the one closest to Adair listed first.
    • Coon Rapids
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Dedham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Adair, with the one closest to Adair listed first.
    • Anita
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Wiota
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Norway Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Norway Center is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway Center
    • Massena
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Grove City ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Grove City is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Cumberland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Cumberland is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
    • Sycamore Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Sycamore Village is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore Village
    • Atlantic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Dewey
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Dewey is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewey
    • Marne
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Lyman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Lyman is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyman
    • Lewis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Adair, with the one closest to Adair listed first.
    • Dexter
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Linden
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Linden is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Redfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Wiscotta
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Wiscotta is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscotta
    • Panther
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Panther is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Adair, with the one closest to Adair listed first.
    • Webster
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Webster is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
    • Pitzer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Pitzer is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
    • Earlham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Macksburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Macksburg is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
  • Montgomery County
    • Grant
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Grant is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
  • Pottawattamie County
    • Walnut
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Walnut is located in Pottawattamie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
  • Shelby County
    • Elk Horn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Adair ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Adair.

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 Adair - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • St. Johns Catholic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Sunnyhill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Immanual Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Immanuel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Canby Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Stanfield Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Quaker Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (171 more) ...
    • Dalmanutha Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Eureka Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Timber 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Adair had a population of 722 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Adair had a population of 701 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Adair, with the one closest to Adair listed first.

  • Canby
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Canby is located in Adair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canby
  • Casey
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Anita
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • North Branch
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • North Branch is located in Guthrie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Branch
  • Menlo
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Exira
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Wiota
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Glendon
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Glendon is located in Guthrie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendon
  • Monteith
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Monteith is located in Guthrie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monteith
  • Guthrie Center
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Brayton
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Fontanelle
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Fontanelle is located in Adair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 612 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Greenfield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Stuart
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Dale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Dale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale

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

Newspapers Published in Adair ...

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 67 newspapers that have been published in the area around Adair.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Adair, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Adair.

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 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 Adair:

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 Adair, 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' (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- Adair) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.