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.
Name Variations for Afton ...
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.
In past government published Postal Guides, Afton was referred to as Afton Courthouse.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Afton. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Afton.
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.
For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.
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 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.
Afton is located in Union 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 Union County: Adair, Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Ringgold & Taylor.
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:
- Union County (The home county of Afton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Arispe
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Arispe is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arispe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Thayer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Creston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- East Creston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- East Creston is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Creston
- Shannon City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Shannon City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Lorimor
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lorimor is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorimor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Cromwell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cromwell is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Kent
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Kent is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Adair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Zion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Zion is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Hebron
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Hebron is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Orient
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stanzel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Stanzel is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanzel
- Gilead
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gilead is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Greenfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Arbor Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
- Fontanelle
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fontanelle is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 612 people
- Bridgewater
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Stringtown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Stringtown is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
- Williamson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Williamson is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson
- Prescott
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Mercer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Mercer is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercer
- Carl
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Carl is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
- Queen City ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Queen City is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
- Corning
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Etna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Etna is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Etna
- Quincy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Quincy is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Hopeville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Murray
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Murray is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Lacelle
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Osceola
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Weldon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Liberty
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Grand River
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Grand River is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Van Wert
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Decatur City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Decatur City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Leon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Macksburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Macksburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Barney
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Barney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Ord
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Ord is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
- East Peru
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- East Peru is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Webster
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Webster is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Truro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pitzer
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Pitzer is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
- Winterset
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Patterson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Saint Charles
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ringgold County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Tingley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Ellston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Ellston is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 38 people
- Knowlton ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Knowlton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
- Beaconsfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Diagonal
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Ayr
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Benton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Benton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Kellerton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Delphos
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Delphos is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphos
- Estimated population in 2019: 24 people
- Maloy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Maloy is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maloy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Redding
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Redding is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redding
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Clearfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lenox
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sharpsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sharpsburg is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Conway
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Conway is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- New Virginia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Marys
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Marys is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 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.
- Green Lawn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Norris Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- County Home Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Abel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Otterbein Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Brown Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- West Union Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bethel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Beulah Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (237 more) ...
- Groesbeck Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dodge Center Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bragg Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Afton had a population of 1,045 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Afton had a population of 825 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
- Afton Junction ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Afton Junction is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afton Junction
- Talmage
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Talmage is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talmage
- Arispe
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Arispe is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arispe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Thayer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Monette
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Monette is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monette
- East Creston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- East Creston is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Creston
- Creston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Shannon City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Shannon City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Lorimor
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lorimor is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorimor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Mortimer ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mortimer is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mortimer
- Hopeville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Tingley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Murray
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Murray is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Macksburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Macksburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Barney
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Barney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
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 68 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 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 Afton:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Union County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adair County
- Adams County
- Clarke County
- Decatur County
- Madison County
- Ringgold County
- Taylor County
- Warren County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Iowa
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 '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- Afton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |